In 2017, Kia Motors Slovakia manufactured 335,600 passenger vehicles in total for customers from over 80 countries. In addition, as the only engine manufacturer in Slovakia, the company produced 539,987 engines. The most requested engine was the 1.7L diesel with a 25% share. Last year, average wage of a production operator in the Kia plant came to 1,458 euros including allowances and bonuses.
“Last year, we invested over 107 million euros into vehicle and engine production lines adjustment. This year, we will carry on with further investments in the amount of over 200 million euros. Our new model shall be introduced at this year’s Geneva Motor Show in March. I believe it will address many European customers with its attractive design and driving attributes,” said Dae-Sik Kim, President and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia.
In 2017, Kia Motors Slovakia provided its employees with opportunity for education and trainings for its employees. Over 59,300 man hours of trainings were taken up of which almost 13,700 took place in the Republic of Korea. During the 2017/2018 school year, the dual education has been ongoing for the second year in a row; 45 students have been receiving theoretic and practical experience in the specializations of mechanical specialist of car production, mechanic mechatronic and programmer of machining and welding tools and devices. The production plant is going to continue to cooperate with the Secondary vocational engineering school in Kysucke Nove Mesto even in the 2018/2019 school year with another 24 students.
Kia car models manufactured in Slovakia in 2017 were mostly exported to the Great Britain (17%), Russia (13%) and Spain (9%). Almost 1.5% of produced vehicles stay in Slovakia. The favorite SUV Kia Sportage became a leader with 64% of the overall output; Kia cee’d followed (29%) while the practical MPV Kia Venga closed the model portfolio at the plant with 7%. The most popular model was the Casa White Kia Sportage with a 1.7L diesel engine and 6-speed manual transmission.
Last year, the average wage of a production worker in Kia Motors Slovakia came to 1,458 euros. The sum includes basic salary, individual contributions, including those for overtime work, summer and Christmas bonus as well as bonus for achieving production target. Difference between the average wage in the plant and in the Zilina region has kept growing wider, while last year the difference reached the amount of over 440 euros.
Kia Motors Slovakia continues to improve working environment for its employees. Last year, 700,000 euros were invested in the air-conditioning units that improved microclimatic conditions during hot days. The investment plan of the company for this year counts with construction of the modern rehabilitation center for employees.
Kia Motors Slovakia aims to stay an environmentally friendly facility that was confirmed last year by adopting a new Environmental Policy 2020. At the same time, the company was recertified according to the new ISO 14001:2015 last year. Over 3,000 interior and exterior lights were replaced by LED lights with an annual saving of 55% of the electricity consumed by lighting.
