Kia Motors Slovakia recorded a 10-per-cent year-on-year growth with 149,000 produced vehicles for the first six months of 2012. At the beginning of this year the company launched the third work shift and volume production of a new model Kia cee’d in April. The new model significantly contributed to the production growth in the second quarter of 2012 which represents 17-per-cent year-on-year growth with 80,000 produced vehicles. Moreover, the engine production recorded a 22-per-cent increase with 237,000 produced units compared to 2011. In 2012, the company also invests into the production of new models, engines as well as the extension of the consolidation centre located in the plant area. Currently, the production of a new Kia cee’d_sw is being tested. During the summer two-week shutdown at the turn of July and August, the production lines will be modified for a new three-door model Kia cee’d production. Regarding to its volume production which will be launched in 2013, 22 employees are participating in the training in the R&D centre in Namyang, South Korea, to obtain necessary knowledge and skills for its assembling.
"I am glad that thanks to our employees we are able to fulfil successfully the production plan and we achieved a record result of 149,000 produced cars during the first six months of 2012. Since
April, we have been producing new Kia cee'd and currently finalizing preparations to launch the production of its brand new wagon version. I believe that our plan to produce more than 285,000
vehicles this year will be fulfilled just thanks to new models produced for customers across Europe," said Eek-Hee Lee, President and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia. In the first half of 2012, Kia
Motors Slovakia produced 237,000 engines, reaching a 22-per-cent annual increase. Last year the plant expanded production capacity up to 450,000 engines per year and it plans to utilize the
capacity in 2012. Furthermore, a new 2-liter diesel engine has been produced in the factory since March and assembled into Kia Sportage cars. The most popular unit was 1.4-liter gasoline engine
during the first six months in 2012. In overall, the plant manufactures gasoline engines with a capacity of 1.4 and 1.6 liter, and 1.4, 1.6, 1.7 and 2.0-liter diesel engines whose production is
ensured by more than 700 employees.
The plant produces a new model of Kia cee’d, a sport-utility model Kia Sportage and a small multi-purpose vehicle Kia Venga. Kia Sportage has represented almost 50 per cent out of the overall production in 2012. The remaining part has been represented by Kia cee'd (37 per cent) and Kia Venga (13 per cent). More than 149,000 vehicles were exported to Russia (20 per cent), Great Britain (12 per cent), Germany (11 per cent), France (7 per cent), Italy (5 per cent), and other European countries. Only 1 per cent from the production remained for the Slovak market. In the school year of 2011-2012, in total of 63 high school students from secondary technical school from the Zilina region completed their practical training directly in the Kia Motors Slovakia plant. Throughout the whole school year the students worked and obtained practical skills in body, paint, assembly and engine shops as well as the maintenance department. The plant develops collaboration with secondary vocational schools and technical universities by donation of teaching aids to improve students’ education. In July, Kia will provide 11 schools and two universities from Slovakia 13 cars, 8 engines and 3 engine cuts for educational purposes.
