Kia Corporation has opened the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, Hyundai Motor Group's (the Group) first dedicated EV manufacturing facility. Located at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong, the new South Korean facility has an annual production capacity of 150,000 units and started production of the Kia EV3 in the first half of this year, to be followed by the EV4 in the first half of 2025. Derived from the term 'Evolution', the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant demonstrates how Kia will continue to change and move forward as it aims to become a leader in the future of mobility.
To celebrate the completion of the project, Kia hosted around 150 guests during a ceremony at the new Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, including Jun Young Choi, Executive Vice President and Head of the Domestic Production Division at Kia; Seung Won Park, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City; and O Kyeong Lim and Nam Hee Kim, Members of the 22nd National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
"The completion of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant solidifies Kia's first step as an EV leader following the company's brand relaunch in 2021. To provide sustainable mobility solutions, we will lead innovation in the EV market and fulfill our responsibilities in helping to deliver a sustainable future", said Jun Young Choi, Executive Vice President and Head of the Domestic Production Division at Kia, during a welcoming speech at the event.
Seung Won Park, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City added, "The completion of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant will help Gwangmyeong City to establish itself at the center of the EV industry in Korea. Through this, we will strive to promote sustainable development of the local economy and create more jobs".
To flexibly respond to changes in global demand for EVs, Kia has been steadily preparing for EV production at its global facilities. The Gwangmyeong EVO Plant is a dedicated EV facility, with an investment total of KRW 401.6 billion over approximately 60,000 square meters, and will serve as an outpost for the production of Kia's popular EV models.
The Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant is the Group's first dedicated EV plant and a facility that has been rebuilt on an existing plant site to become a hub for next-generation vehicle production. Kia has spent approximately one year transforming Gwangmyeong Plant 2, which was completed in 1987 to produce small internal combustion engine vehicles such as the Kia Pride, Avella, and Stonic.