Kia highlights ‘integral’ importance of Slovakian operation to its global ambitions

뉴스 제공

2005-05-27 10:30

Seoul--(뉴스와이어)--Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) today highlighted the importance of its planned manufacturing plant in Zilina, Slovakia, describing the facility as “integral” to the company’s ongoing global expansion, during a visit by Slovak Republic Prime Minister Mikulas Dzulinda to the Republic of Korea.

Prime Minister Dzulinda visited Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group’s Namyang R&D center and toured the design center, powertrain center, crash test facility and proving ground. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Finance Minister, Eva Simkova, and 40 delegates and businessmen from Slovakia.

Mong-Koo Chung, Chairman and CEO of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, said, “Kia Motors is already among the world’s fastest growing automakers and we are committed to ensuring that this dramatic growth continues across all markets. Our plant in the Slovak Republic will be an integral factor in supporting our global expansion, especially in Europe. ”

“However, our operations in Zilina would not be possible without the vision that has been shown by the Slovak government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Dzulinda, in introducing competitive, market-oriented economic policies that have supported foreign companies, like Kia Motors, in setting up in Slovakia,” added Mr. Chung.

Prime Minister Dzurinda said, “During this visit, I have witnessed the world-class R&D capabilities and state-of-art technologies of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group. Again, we are delighted to have such an advanced automaker investing in the Slovak Republic.”

The Prime Minister also said that the Kia production facility in Zilina is expected to greatly contribute to the ongoing development of the Slovakian economy. He pledged his government’s continued support for Kia’s operations in Slovakia.

Kia’s first-ever European production facility is now under construction after its ground-breaking ceremony in April last year and is located 203 km north-east of the capital, Bratislava. Factory buildings are now being built and assembly lines will be installed at the beginning of July this year.

The 1.1 billion Euro assembly plant is the second Kia Motors overseas production facility, after the company’s factory in China, and will have a production capacity of 300,000 units per annum. The plant will produce new compact cars and SUVs aimed at the European market.

Kia shipped 267,000 vehicles to Europe last year and 425,000 vehicles are expected to be exported to the same market this year, a whopping 59% increase.

웹사이트: http://www.kiamotors.com