Kia Motors Slovakia produced more than 134,000 cars during the first half of the year 2011 which means a 26 % growth compared to the same period of 2010. The sporty-utility vehicles, Kia Sportage and Hyundai ix35, represented more than 60% of the overall production. The most vehicles were exported to Russia (21%), Great Britain (10%) and Germany (8%). Kia currently produces three body versions of cee’d model as well as the popular SUV Kia Sportage and employees over 3,000 people. Nowadays, the company invests into new production technologies and adjustment of the lines for volume production of the Kia Venga model, another model produced from the autumn 2011. “I am very proud of all our employees. Thanks to them, we produce cars of high quality and we are flexible to react to an increasing number of orders. I believe we will also follow this trend in the second half of the year and fulfill the production plan of 240,000 cars,” said Kook-Hyun Shim, Vice-President and Head of the Production Group, Kia Motors Slovakia.
Kia Motors Slovakia plans to launch the engine volume production in the second Engine shop, where the equipment test is in progress. Furthermore, the company recorded a 25% year-on-year increase in engine production with 191,000 produced units during the first six months in 2011. The plant produces 1.4, 1.6 and 1.7-liter diesel as well as 1.4 and 1.6-liter gasoline engines. The gasoline units represented 50% of the overall engine production from January until June 2011. Following the cooperation with the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech plant in Nosovice in engines supplies, more than 55% of all produced units were exported to the plant in the Czech Republic. In June 2011, a company production portfolio changed when Kia Motors Slovakia completed the production of the sporty-utility model Hyundai ix35. Its production was transferred to the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech plant in Nosovice in the Czech Republic. Therefore, the model Kia Venga will be produced in the Kia Motors Slovakia plant due to the optimization of the production efficiencies in both manufacturing plants.
Beside the production Kia also performs activities to develop the Zilina region. In February 2011, the third year of Employee Grant Program, focused on safe traffic and development of the activities for handicapped people, was announced. On June 17 and 18, 2011, more than 80 employees including the executives of Kia Motors Slovakia participated in the biggest volunteering event in the Slovak Republic called Our City, in the activities such as landscaping of the Hricov and Lietava castles, blood donation, painting of the interior of Diocesian Charity and Krajina Harmonie Foundation. Developing projects focused on the environment and safety improvement are planned for the second half of 2011 and will support the schools, municipalities and non-governmental organizations.
