Kia will begin producing the EV3 in Mexico on Aug 4 after committing US$649 million (RM2.7 billion) to its operations in the country.
The investment, scheduled for 2026 to 2028, will adapt Kia’s existing factory in Pesquería, Nuevo León, for electric-vehicle production. It also covers a nationwide charging network and supporting energy and water projects.
The Mexican government said the EV3 would be made for the domestic and export markets. Initial local content will be about 27%, with the proportion expected to increase as more components are sourced within Mexico.
The project is expected to create 500 new jobs in 2026 and 1,500 direct positions between 2027 and 2030.
Kia México confirmed the investment on LinkedIn, describing the EV3 as “made in Mexico”. The company said it would produce and sell a fully electric vehicle locally for the first time, supported by charging options for homes, public locations and roadside assistance.
Kia has also opened Mexican pre-orders for the electric SUV. Production is being added to the existing Pesquería facility rather than a new factory.
The EV3 is offered globally with 58.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh batteries. Both versions are front-wheel drive and use a 150 kW (204 PS) motor producing 283 Nm. The standard-range model completes 0–100kph in 7.5 seconds, while the heavier long-range version takes 7.7 seconds. Top speed is 170kph.
Kia México advertises up to 605 km of range and said DC charging from 10% to 80% takes 29 to 31 minutes, depending on the battery.
On an 11 kW AC wallbox, a 10% to 100% charge takes about 5 hours 20 minutes for the smaller battery and 7 hours 15 minutes for the larger unit.
