Kia has started production of its EV4 hatch at the AutoLand factory in Žilina, Slovakia. This marks the South Korean automaker’s first electric vehicle manufactured in Europe.
The AutoLand plant serves as Kia’s only EV production facility in Europe. The factory features advanced robotics and a 3,700-person workforce.
Its automated production line can build both gasoline and electric models simultaneously. The plant currently produces the gasoline-powered Kia Sportage and Kia XCeed.
European Engineering for European Roads
Engineers from Hyundai – Kia’s sister brand – fine-tuned the EV4’s handling at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. They focused on giving it a more European driving feel.
Kia paid special attention to cornering performance and high-speed stability during development.
“Producing the EV4 locally in Europe strengthens our position in one of the world’s most competitive EV markets while ensuring advanced, affordable electric mobility is widely accessible,” says Marc Hedrich, Kia Europe president and CEO.
The European-spec EV4 underwent extensive testing before launch. It completed 110,000 kilometers of public road simulation testing. Engineers also put it through a 10,000-kilometer stress test at the Nürburgring.
During Nürburgring testing, the batteries ran at 95% capacity with repeated fast-charging sessions.
Battery Performance Holds Strong
After the rigorous testing program, the EV4’s battery health dropped from 100% to just 95%.
“After testing, engineers confirmed a battery State-of-Health of 95%, proving that the EV4 is built to offer lasting performance and peace of mind for long-term ownership,” said Kia Europe’s chief operating officer.
Kia isn’t the first Asian automaker to start building EVs in Europe. Toyota confirmed in September that it’ll build its next electric vehicle at its factory in Kolín, Czech Republic.
UK Pricing and Availability
The Kia EV4 is now available in the UK. Prices start at £34,695 for the hatch and £40,895 for the fastback.
The fastback model is built at Kia’s dedicated EV plant in Gwangmyeong, South Korea. Both body styles offer the same battery choices.
Buyers can choose between:
- Long-range 81.4kWh battery – 391 miles of range
- Standard 58.3kWh battery – 273 miles of range
The EV4 joins Kia’s growing electric lineup alongside the EV3, EV5, EV6, and EV9 models.
