Automaker Kia said on Friday it has completed construction of Hyundai Motor Group’s first production facility dedicated solely to electric vehicles, capable of producing 150,000 units a year.
Kia held an event for the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, at Kia Autoland in Gwangmyeong, south of Seoul, which is tasked with mass production of the new Kia EV3 model and the upcoming EV4 model.
Kia invested 401.6 billion won ($304.2 million) in a 60,000-square-meter facility, rebuilding an existing car plant to facilitate the production of next-generation vehicles, Yonhap news agency reported.
The event was attended by about 150 guests, including Choi Jun-Young, senior vice president and head of domestic production at Kia, and Gwangmyeong Mayor Park Seung-won.
The EVO Plant appears under the theme of pursuing a big change with a small expansion, taking into account its location in the city center and other environmental factors, such as the protection of green areas.
In addition, the facility was built with a complete revolution in electrical installation in mind, focusing on environmentally friendly and functional materials.
Mass production of the EV3, the brand’s compact all-electric SUV, began in the first half of this year. In the first half of 2025, Kia plans to launch the EV4, an upcoming mid-size electric sedan.
Choi said in an acceptance speech that the completion of the plant “strengthens Kia’s first step as an EV leader following the company’s brand relaunch in 2021.”
“With the goal of providing sustainable mobility solutions, we will lead innovation in the EV market and fulfill our commitments in helping to deliver a sustainable future,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor and Kia launched a joint project to develop cathode material technology to produce LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries for electric vehicles. The joint project, involving Hyundai Steel and Ecopro BM, aims to develop technology for direct assembly without the use of precursors during the production of LFP battery cathodes.