In December 2010, Kia Motors Slovakia launched the volume production of a new three-door version of Kia pro_cee'd. The company also produces the new sport-utility models (SUV), Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage whose production started during the year of 2010. Kia Motors Slovakia produces five different cars while the SUV models’ production represents more than half of the total number of produced vehicles during the first eleven months in 2010. The other half is the production of the three versions of Kia cee'd. During this period the factory produced more than 207,400 cars which is more than a 50% year-on-year increase. Most vehicles were exported to Russia, Germany and Great Britain and only 1% of produced cars remains for the Slovak market. The company has been also producing the green cars from EcoDynamics range which are environmentally friendly. More and more the customers require Stop&Go system which decreases the fuel consumption by 15% while driving in the city. The system was installed in more than 14% of produced cars in 2010. "I evaluate the year very positively because we have successfully launched the production of new models. In addition, Kia Sportage was given the maximum 5-Star rating by Euro NCAP which also proves that thanks to our employees we produce quality cars with the maximum level of safety," said In-Kyu Bae, President and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia.
The engine production
The new engine introduced in 2010 is turbo-diesel with a capacity of 1.7 liters produced since October 1. From January until November Kia produced 291,035 engines and achieved a 31% year-on-year growth compared to the same period last year. The most popular one among customers is a 1.4-liter gasoline engine. During the first eleven months the gasoline engines represents 59% and diesel engine 41% of the total production. The company also continues to expand the production capacity from 300,000 produced engines to 450,000 units produced per year. The installation of production technologies in the shop will last until the end of February 2011. The launch of the engine volume production is scheduled for the second half of next year. Recruitment will continue early next year, when it takes another 100 new workers.
The awards for the produced vehicles
The year of 2010 has been very successful for the plant in terms of awards for individual produced vehicles. In December, Kia Sportage gained the biggest attraction among the journalists with the total score of 107 points and became the Car of the Year 2011 and became also the Car of the Year in Scotland. It was also awarded an internationally recognized environmental certificate ISO 14040 following its rigorous assessment of all environmental aspects, from production to day-to-day running through to recycling. It proves that the car complies with the strict environmental standards. Kia Sportage was also awarded 5-Star safety rating by Euro NCAP. The popular sport-utility model receives prestigious design prize iF Design Award in the category "Transportation Design". In April, popular Kia cee’d became the Fleet Car of the Year 2010 in Slovakia.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Kia Motors Slovakia develops long-term activities in the area of corporate social responsibility. In January 2010, the company donated the 500,000th produced vehicle to the Transplantation center of the Faculty Hospital in Martin to transfer of surgery teams and organs for transplantation in Slovakia. During the year of 2010, Kia Motors Slovakia employees donated blood twice directly in the plant, altogether 52 people. Also this year the company, as one of ten, participated in the Nasa Zilina project. The employees helped with the park construction near the Zilina Zariecie station, or educated the workers of Navrat Center in working with PC. In 2010, Kia Foundation Fund in cooperation with the Pontis Foundation announced another year of the Employee Grant Program. Kia Motors Slovakia selected and financially supported 22 projects of non-governmental organizations focused on the protection of the environment, cultural heritage, or mobility. In 2010, Kia Foundation Fund launched the pilot year of the project focused on youth education called Kia Innovation Award. Altogether 16 working groups from 8 schools from the Zilina and Trencin regions participated in the competition. The winning project was "The car model powered by the hydrogen cell" from the Secondary Vocational Polytechnical School in Prievidza. Vladimir Repka and Miroslav Drobec in collaboration with their teacher prepared the project.
