The car manufacturer produced more than 350,000 vehicles last year, marking the highest production volume in its history. The Kia Sportage remained the most-produced model in 2023. The main export markets were major European economies – the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. At the same time, the company increased engine production to more than 507,000 units.
In 2023, Kia Slovakia reached a historic milestone when a total of 350,224 vehicles rolled off the production lines at its plant in Teplička nad Váhom. This represents a 12% year-on-year increase and confirms the successful presence of the Kia brand in Europe. The largest share of vehicles produced in 2023 consisted of the fifth-generation Kia Sportage, accounting for as much as 60% of total production. The remaining 40% comprised various body versions of the Ceed model.
“Last year, we achieved a historic record in the number of vehicles produced at Kia Slovakia. This success is the result of the dedication and cooperation of our employees, as well as the efficient utilization of our production lines. An interesting fact is that every fourth vehicle produced in 2023 was electrified,” said Geon Won Shin, President of Kia Slovakia, commenting on the company’s achievement.
The three largest export markets for Kia Slovakia remain the United Kingdom (16%), Germany (11%) and Spain (10%). For Slovak customers, more than 7,400 Sportage and Ceed vehicles were produced in Teplička nad Váhom. In addition to the United Kingdom, the countries receiving the highest number of electrified vehicles last year included France, Spain and Sweden. Overall, the company exported its vehicles to 87 countries worldwide.
In its production halls, Kia Slovakia also manufactured more than 507,000 engines in 2023, including the jubilee seven-millionth powertrain. This represents a year-on-year increase of more than 10% in engine production. A significant portion of the engines produced were petrol units, accounting for 87% of total output. Most of the engines were installed in vehicles produced in Teplička nad Váhom, while 44% were shipped to the Hyundai plant in Nošovice, Czech Republic.
In terms of employee care, Kia Slovakia increases wages on a regular basis. In 2023, wages rose by EUR 130, and in 2024 they will increase by a further EUR 110. In addition, the company will pay a special bonus to its employees at the beginning of 2024 as a token of appreciation for their efforts in achieving record production volumes. The average wage of a production employee, excluding management, reached EUR 2,408 last year.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the Sportage model, Kia Slovakia launched production of a jubilee edition in September 2023, featuring a new body color – Wolf Grey. In terms of colors overall, most Ceed models left the paint shop in black, white and silver (64%). The situation was very similar for the Sportage, with the top three colors completed by Experience Green.
In the current year, Kia Slovakia plans to produce 340,000 vehicles and half a million engines. The company’s main goal remains to continuously improve the quality of both vehicles and engines, while further increasing customer satisfaction.
