Kia Slovak Plant Reports Record First-Half Production

VIENNA – Kia Motors Slovakia manufactured a record number of cars at its plant in Teplicka nad Vahom near Zilina, Slovakia, in the year’s first half, despite unfavorable economic conditions in the European markets.

The South Korean auto maker built 158,900 vehicles this year through June, up 6% from like-2012.

The Slovak plant, which introduced a third shift in first-quarter 2012, worked at full capacity for the first time in its 7-year history during the first six months of the year.

In 2012, the facility manufactured a record 291,367 vehicles.

“With the use of the plant’s full capacity, we expect that we will produce a record 300,000 cars this year,” company spokesman Jozef Bace tells WardsAuto.

The Kia Sportage cross/utility vehicle accounted for nearly 48% of production in the first half, while the cee’d with its three body styles – 5- and 3-door hatchbacks plus wagon – represented more than 42%. The Venga multipurpose vehicle made up the remaining10%.

Kia finalized the renewal of the cee’d family earlier this year with volume output of the second-generation pro_cee’d 3-door hatchback starting in February and the launch of GT versions of both the 5- and 3-door hatchbacks in May.

“We believe the new models that we put into production in 2013 will allow us to continue to run the plant at full capacity," Eek-Hee Lee, president and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia, says in prepared statement.

Despite Europe’s economic woes, there still is strong demand for the Sportage. Russia was the largest export market in the first six month, with 24% of the total production. The U.K. followed with 14%, Germany with 9%, and France and Italy each with 5%.

Kia exports to Russia mostly are shipped as semi-knocked-down kits to contract assembler Avtotor in Kaliningrad.

Kia Slovakia’s engine production rose 6.7% to 253,200 units through June, including 133,100 gasoline engines and 120,100 diesel mills. Some 47% of the total output was shipped to the Huyndai Motor Mfg. Czech plant in neighboring Czech Republic.