The Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, situated at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong, is Hyundai Motor Group’s inaugural dedicated electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing site. It is set to produce the EV3 and EV4 models with an annual production capacity of 150,000 units.
Kia Corporation inaugurated the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant, marking the launch of Hyundai Motor Group’s premier dedicated EV manufacturing site. This new facility, located at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong in South Korea, boasts a capacity to produce 150,000 units annually. It commenced production with the Kia EV3 earlier this year and will start manufacturing the EV4 in the first half of 2025.
The opening ceremony was attended by approximately 150 guests, 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.
During his welcome speech, Jun Young Choi expressed that the opening of the Kia Gwangmyeong EVO Plant marks a crucial turning point for Kia. Following the brand’s 2021 relaunch, the company is positioning itself as a leader in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. He emphasised Kia’s commitment to fostering innovation in the EV market and providing sustainable mobility solutions that support a more environmentally friendly future.
Kia has strategically prepared for the shift in global EV demand across its international facilities. The Gwangmyeong EVO Plant represents a significant KRW 401.6 billion investment across 60,000 square meters and is poised to be a key site for Kia’s popular EV models.
Previously, Gwangmyeong Plant 2, constructed in 1987 for producing vehicles like the Kia Pride and Stonic, underwent a transformation over the past year to adapt to EV production. This conversion makes the EVO Plant not only the Group’s first specialized EV production facility but also a rejuvenated site for next-generation vehicle manufacturing.
The facility emphasises sustainability and worker comfort, aiming for substantial change with minimal physical expansion due to its urban location and environmental considerations like green space preservation.
Focusing on eco-friendly operations, the plant’s body shop features advanced logistics through automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems, and its paint shop now utilises a more environmentally friendly water-based 3C1B painting method. New technologies have also been introduced to enhance employee well-being and reduce labour intensity, including machines that automatically install high-voltage batteries, wheels, and tyres.
Following the ceremony, the plant is set to increase its EV production. The Kia EV3, a compact all-electric SUV, marks the beginning of its mass production, followed by the planned introduction of the EV4, a mid-sized electric sedan, in 2025. This facility is central to Kia’s strategy to bolster its EV lineup, solidifying its role as a key manufacturing hub for the company’s future electric models.
