Kia Slovakia celebrates the production of over five million units, a milestone that highlights the company’s success through consistency and innovation. A hybrid Sportage has been selected as the five millionth anniversary vehicle for customers in Slovakia. Of the five million vehicles produced in Teplicka nad Vahom, Žilina, more than 2.5 million are Sportage models, which have been produced in Kia Slovakia since the second generation. It is closely followed by Ceed models, of which more than 2.1 million have been produced.
“We have tripled our share of the European car market in the last two decades thanks to the presence of our plant in Europe”, commented Marc Hedrich, President of Kia Europe, present at the local ceremony. “The tremendous success of the Ceed and Sportage models produced in Slovakia is truly admirable, becoming best-selling models across Europe several times, which is proof of the quality Kia has managed to achieve”, he added.
Kia Slovakia currently produces nearly 1,500 Ceed and Sportage vehicles per day, which are transported by train and truck to customers. In recent years, the main export countries for Kia Slovakia remain Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, and Spain. The company continues to invest and implement new technologies to increase production efficiency and employee safety, reduce environmental impact and ensure maximum customer satisfaction. Through its foundation, which was established in 2013, the carmaker has supported a variety of projects in the fields of education, health, environment, and inclusion.
The carmaker currently employs approximately 3,800 people, with an average employee retention rate of 11 years. Among the current staff, more than 1,300 employees have worked for Kia Slovakia for over 15 years, making the company a stable employer in the region for the last 20 years and therefore a strategic partner of the city of Žilina, surrounding municipalities and communities. Being the only car producer in Slovakia with own certified emission laboratory and engine production facility, the staff represent the most highly qualified engineers specialised in both assembly and machining operations. Kia therefore stands at the forefront of innovation and sustainability for the European automotive industry.
Moreover, the dedication and proficiency of the workforce coupled with state-of-the-art facilities have enabled Kia to meet the evolving needs of European customers. The production team’s technical prowess is matched only by their dedication to environmental stewardship. Through various initiatives, Kia has reduced its ecological footprint per produced car substantially in the last decade: 16 per cent saving of electricity, 35 per cent water saving by reutilising recycled water, and a further 19 per cent decrease of CO2. Finally, it is relevant to note that the Kia factory in Zilina uses 100 per cent renewable energy for its operations.
“I would like to thank all of our employees, suppliers and partners for their efforts and dedication: thanks to their hard work, we have managed to produce five million vehicles in Teplicka nad Vahom,” said Geon Won Shin, President, and CEO of Kia Slovakia.
