The ceremonial event marking the start of construction of the plant took place in Teplička nad Váhom on 7 April 2004. The ceremony was attended by top representatives of Hyundai Motor Group (the parent company of Kia), Kia Motors Corporation, the then Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic, as well as representatives of the city of Žilina.
Construction of the plant began in autumn 2004 and lasted approximately 25 months, including a six-month pilot production phase. The first vehicle – the then-new cee’d model – rolled off the production line as part of mass production in December 2006. It was a completely new model, developed primarily for the European market. Since then, nearly five million vehicles of all produced models have found customers. Engine production was launched during the same period.
Over its twenty-year history, the plant has produced a total of four models – the Kia Ceed, Sportage, Venga, and, between 2009 and 2011, also the Hyundai ix35, a model of the parent company. The Sportage has been produced near Žilina since its second generation, and as far as the Ceed model is concerned, anywhere in the world you see it, you can be certain it was produced in Teplička nad Váhom. This is the only plant worldwide where the Ceed is manufactured. In addition to the classic five-door version, SW (estate) and three-door variants were introduced in 2007, with the latter produced until 2018. Since 2018 and 2019 respectively, the Ceed has also been produced as the ProCeed (a sporty shooting brake body style) and the XCeed crossover.
Initially, the plant operated on a single-shift basis. Two-shift operation was introduced in 2007, and since 1 January 2012, the car manufacturer has been operating a three-shift production system. The plant’s annual production capacity is 350,000 vehicles.
For 20 years, the company has been a stable employer in the region and a strategic partner of the city of Žilina, surrounding municipalities and local communities. Kia has become an integral part of the region and contributes to its continuous development. Through its foundation, established in 2013, the car manufacturer has so far supported projects in the areas of education, health, the environment and inclusion, with total funding exceeding EUR 11 million.
The car manufacturer directly employs approximately 3,800 people on a long-term basis. The average length of employment at the plant is 11 years, and the average age of employees is 40 years. Last year, the average wage of production employees exceeded EUR 2,400.
Across the entire Kia Slovakia site, including suppliers, approximately 6,000 people are employed. During its presence in the region, the car manufacturer has also attracted numerous additional suppliers to the wider Žilina area, providing employment for thousands more people.
