Kia has begun manufacturing its first fully electric vehicle (EV) specifically developed for the European market, the EV4 hatchback, at its production facility in Slovakia. Situated in Zilina, Kia AutoLand Slovakia has seen major enhancements to its production infrastructure to support the assembly of the EV4. The company reported a €108 million investment for the enhancement of the plant, incorporating advanced technologies such as a dedicated conveyor system for EV batteries.
The EV4 marks Kia’s debut in the electric hatchback segment and stands as the first electric vehicle to be produced in Europe. It comes with a choice of two battery options—58.3 kWh or 81.4 kWh—delivering a WLTP range of up to 391 miles. The hatchback also introduces advanced features like Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality.
Kia AutoLand Slovakia, established in 2004, employs approximately 3,700 workers and utilizes over 600 robots across five key production zones: press, body, paint, engine, and assembly.
The plant has an annual production capacity of 350,000 vehicles and 540,000 engines, and since its inception, it has produced over five million units for export to 83 countries. In 2024, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models made up 25% of the facility’s total production.
The EV4 is built on Hyundai Motor’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). In addition to the EV4, the plant also produces other models such as the Kia Sportage and Kia XCeed, including the hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of these models.
Kia also introduced the EV4 Fastback, the sedan variant of the model, last month. The company plans to launch the EV5 in Europe later this year, with the more affordable EV2 set to debut in 2026. Additionally, Kia will introduce its first electric van, the PV5, with a swift rollout planned across multiple European markets throughout the year.
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