Kia vehicles have become a prominent sight on roads worldwide, recognized for their design and value. Understanding where these vehicles are manufactured provides insight into Kia’s global operations. While Kia Corporation is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, the manufacturing footprint extends significantly beyond its home country, particularly into Europe to serve the European market.
Kia’s European operations are strategically centered in Žilina, Slovakia. This state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, established with a €1.6 billion investment, plays a crucial role in meeting European demand. Approximately 54% of Kia vehicles sold in Europe are produced here. The Žilina plant is responsible for the European production of some of Kia’s most popular models, including the Sportage crossover SUV, the Venga compact MPV, and the cee’d model family (comprising the five-door hatch, pro_cee’d three-door, and cee’d Sportswagon). This plant boasts an impressive annual production capacity exceeding 300,000 cars, and in 2015 alone, it celebrated milestones such as producing its one-millionth cee’d model and breaking production records for the Kia Sportage with over 100,000 units manufactured.
While Slovakia is a key European manufacturing hub, it’s important to remember Kia’s broader global manufacturing network. However, for European customers, a significant portion of Kias are proudly made in Europe, specifically at the Žilina facility in Slovakia, demonstrating Kia’s commitment to regional production and efficient service of the European market.
