Of the five million vehicles produced in Teplička nad Váhom, more than 2.5 million are Sportage models, which have been manufactured at Kia Slovakia since the second generation. They are closely followed by the Ceed models, with more than 2.1 million units produced. The remaining share consisted of the Kia Venga and Hyundai ix35 models, which are no longer in production. The jubilee five-millionth vehicle is a Sportage HEV produced for a customer in Slovakia.
“I would like to thank above all our employees, suppliers and partners for their effort and dedication. It is thanks to them that throughout our entire presence in Teplička nad Váhom we have not only managed to produce five million vehicles, but also overcome challenging periods during the pandemic and parts shortages,” said Geon Won Shin, President and CEO of Kia Slovakia.
Thanks in part to the presence of its manufacturing plant in Europe, Kia has tripled its market share in the European automotive market over the past two decades. Since 6 December 2006, when production officially began in Teplička nad Váhom, vehicles have been exported to a total of 109 countries worldwide. In recent years, the main export markets for Kia Slovakia have been the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain, while the highest numbers of electrified vehicles have been produced for customers in the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Sweden.
The total value of Kia Slovakia’s investments in Slovakia has to date exceeded EUR 2.3 billion, and the company has paid more than EUR 830 million in corporate income tax to the state budget so far. Kia Slovakia continues to invest and implement new technologies with the aim of increasing production efficiency and employee safety, reducing environmental impact, and ensuring maximum customer satisfaction. Through its foundation, established in 2013, the car manufacturer has supported projects in the areas of education, health, the environment and inclusion, with total funding exceeding EUR 11 million.
Kia Slovakia currently produces nearly 1,500 Ceed and Sportage vehicles per day, which are delivered to customers in more than 80 countries using road and rail transport. The car manufacturer has long maintained a stable workforce, with an average employee age of 40 years and an average length of employment of 11 years. More than 1,300 employees have been working at Kia Slovakia for over 15 years. Last year, the average wage of production employees exceeded EUR 2,400. For a new employee, the average wage including bonuses and allowances exceeds EUR 1,800 after 12 months of employment.
Kia Slovakia places strong emphasis on the continuous development of employee skills and competencies and is also exemplary in its care for employee health. Popular benefits include on-site massages, Health Days, as well as contributions towards childcare facilities, kindergartens and leisure activities. Kia also pays close attention to mental health, offering employees and their family members access to company-funded psychological counselling. Long-standing popular benefits also include discounts on vehicle purchases, favourable mobile phone plans, organised bus trips, and employer-provided bus transport to the workplace.
