Kia has started series production of the EV4 at its Žilina plant in Slovakia, making it the brand’s first fully electric vehicle manufactured in Europe.
The Aug 20 start-up follows extensive upgrades at Kia AutoLand Slovakia and marks a key step in the company’s regional electrification drive.
The five-door EV4 is a European-focused electric hatchback.
Kia Europe president and CEO Marc Hedrich said Slovakia is now building fully electric, hybrid and internal-combustion models in parallel.
The EV4 sits on Hyundai Motor Group’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and offers two battery choices: 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh, with a claimed range of up to 630km.
Energy features include Vehicle-to-Load and Vehicle-to-Grid capability. An aluminium bonnet reduces weight, while five exterior colours will be offered.
First unveiled globally in February 2025, the car follows Kia’s “Opposites United” design philosophy.
Žilina is pivotal to Kia’s European footprint.
Opened in 2004 on a two-square-kilometre site, the factory employs about 3,700 people and uses more than 600 robots across press, body, paint, engine and assembly shops.
A €108 million (RM530mil) upgrade added new technologies, including an EV battery conveyor on the chassis line.
The plant builds the XCeed and Sportage, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants that accounted for 25% of output in 2024.
With annual capacity for 350,000 vehicles and 540,000 engines, Žilina has produced over five million units for 83 export markets, representing roughly 11% of Kia’s global vehicle output.
Sustainability measures include reductions since 2014 of 11% in electricity use per vehicle, 28% in water consumption and 13% in CO2 emissions.
The facility runs on 100% renewable electricity and plans to cover about 1.5% of its energy needs via an on-site photovoltaic plant by year-end.
While the five-door EV4 will be built in Slovakia, the saloon-bodied EV4 Fastback will be produced in South Korea at Kia’s Autoland Gwangmyeong EVO plant.
