Seoul: Inspiring hope for a greener automotive future, electric vehicles automaker Kia said on Friday it has completed building Hyundai Motor Group’s first manufacturing facility dedicated solely to electric vehicles. The facility boasts an annual capacity of 150,000 units.
Kia held a ceremony for the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, located at Kia Autoland in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul. The plant is tasked with mass-producing Kia’s new EV3 and upcoming EV4 models.
According to Yonhap news agency, Kia invested 401.6 billion won ($304.2 million) in the 60,000-square-meter facility, completely rebuilding it on an existing plant site to facilitate its next-generation vehicle production.
Around 150 guests attended the event, including Choi Jun-Young, executive vice president and head of domestic production at Kia, and Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seung-won.
The EVO Plant is characterised by the theme of pursuing maximum change through minimal expansion, considering its location in the city centre and other environmental factors, such as the protection of green spaces. This innovative approach is sure to pique the interest of automotive enthusiasts.
In addition, the plant has been constructed with a full-scale conversion to electrification in mind, focusing on eco-friendly and worker-friendly elements.
The brand’s compact all-electric SUV, the EV3, began mass production in the first half of this year. In the first half of 2025, Kia plans to introduce the EV4, the brand’s upcoming mid-sized electric sedan, a model that is sure to excite and captivate the automotive world.
Choi said in a welcoming speech that the plant’s completion “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,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor and Kia have launched a joint project to develop cathode material technology for producing electric vehicles’ LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries. The joint project, which also involves Hyundai Steel and Ecopro BM, aims to develop a technology for synthesising materials directly without using precursors while manufacturing LFP battery cathodes.
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—IANS
