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Kia upping the ante on Euro-made EVs

More European-made EVs on the way as Kia ramps up Slovakian production

17 Oct 2025

KIA’S BEV production plans have been significantly stepped-up following news that the South Korean manufacturer will increase output of the small EV2 and midsize EV4 models at its Zilinia plant in Slovakia.

 

The move will see Kia’s European EV production ratchet up threefold over the next two years according to Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song.

 

“The average annual production of the upcoming EV2 is expected to reach around 100,000 units at the Zilina plant in Slovakia in 2027,” he told media earlier this month adding that Kia plans to scale up EV4 production at the Zilina factory to more than 80,000 vehicles a year by 2027.

 

“With additional output from Korea, the EV4’s combined global production is expected to reach approximately 100,000 units,” he said.

 

Speaking at the Seoul, South Korean media launch of the EV5 and PV5 MPV, Mr Ho said Kia’s aim is to produce 100,000 each of the EV2 small hatchback and EV4 compact hatchback globally each year because that is a high enough volume for suppliers and to make the models profitable.

 

His BEV volume targets for Zilina are considerably higher than predictions made by Kia Europe CEO and strong BEV supporter Marc Hedrich in August who told Automotive News Europe publication that a production target of 20,000 to 30,000 EV4s in 2026 “would certainly make sense”.

 

He added that combined EV4 and EV2 output could account for 10 and 20 per cent of the factory’s total production next year.

 

Kia says the Zilina plant has a capacity of 320,000 units that could be expanded to 350,000 with overtime.

 

Officials at Kia Europe told Automotive News Europe that production plans evolved following the EV4’s August launch after the car received positive customer and media feedback.

 

The publication says Kia will spend €108 million ($A195 million) to build the EV4 and EV2 in Zilina.

 

Production for the EV4 (Kia’s first Euro-built BEV) began on August 20 with the smaller EV2 following sometime next year. Kia says the later will be its most affordable BEV in Europe.

 

An EV4 fastback variant, manufactured in South Korea is also available in Europe.

 

Kia’s hopes localising BEV production in Europe will help it maintain strong growth with electrified models on the continent countering a recent drop in overall European sales for the brand.

 

Kia’s European BEV sales are being driven by the EV3, Kia’s number two seller in Europe after the Sportage and the region’s number seven selling BEV according to statistics supplied by Dataforce.

 

It trails behind the Europe’s YTD top selling BEVs including the Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4, Tesla Model 3, Volkswagen ID.3, Skoda Elroq, and Volkswagen ID.7.

 

Striving to keep the 2035 European Union’s zero-emission target, Kia plans for BEVs to account for 74 per cent of its overall EU sales by 2030 currently ticking over at 20 per cent.

 

“We have the best EV line-up in the world,” added Mr Ho.

 

“Since the EV6 we started using dedicated architectures for EVs and this is paying off.”


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