‘Euro Spec’ Kia EV4 hatch production begins in Slovakia
Kia has begun building its EV4 hatch at its AutoLand factory in Žilina, making it the South Korean carmaker’s first EV to be built in Europe.
The AutoLand plant is Kia’s sole EV production facility in Europe. It’s earmarked by its advanced robotics, 3,700-strong workforce, plus an automated production line allowing for the simultaneous production of both internal combustion engine (ICE) and all-electric models. At present, the Žilina plant produces the ICE Kia Sportage and Kia XCeed.
As well as building the EV4 hatch in Europe, engineers from Kia’s sister brand, Hyundai, optimised its handling at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre (HMETC) in Rüsselsheim, Germany, to give it a more “European” feel. Kia claims that it payed “special focus” to the car’s cornering performance and high-speed stability.
“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 ‘Euro Spec’ EV4 hatch’s development didn’t stop at the HMETC. During pre-launch testing, it completed a 110,000-kilometre public road simulation, plus a 10,000-kilometer Nürburgring stress test with the batteries running at 95% capacity and repeated hyper-charging sessions.
Following the rigorous testing programme, the results showed that the EV4 hatch’s battery health had dropped from 100% to just 95%. Kia Europe chief operating officer said, “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.”
Kia isn’t the first Eastern Asian country to begin building EVs in Europe. In early September this year, Toyota confirmed that will be build its next EV at its factory in Kolín, Czech Republic.
The Kia EV4 is now on-sale in the UK. Prices start at £34,695 for the hatch and £40,895 for the fastback, which is built at Kia’s dedicated EV plant in Gwangmyeong, South Korea. Despite the difference in body styles, both come with a choice of either a long-range 81.4kWh battery yielding 391 miles from a single charge, or standard 58.3kWh unit capable of 273 miles.
