BRATISLAVA, December 7, (WEBNOVINY) — Kia Motors Slovakia plans to produce 240,000 vehicles in 2011, the company’s president In-Kyu Bae told the Forbes magazine. The Zilina plant will outperform its production plan for 2010. The originally expected production was around 220,000 vehicles, the reality is expected to be approximately 228,000 vehicles assembled. In 2009, Kia assembled 150,000 vehicles in Slovakia. At present, the company benefits from high demand for SUVs with its production of Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage, In-Kyu Bae told Forbes.
In his words, the company is expecting more changes. In-Kyu Bae indicated a date of introducing the third shift. It probably will not be in 2011. “The third shift will probably be introduced in 2012, when the production of a new generation of the model cee’d is launched,” he said in the interview. The company has high expectations of cee’d, it hopes the vehicle will help to increase its market share in Europe.
Kia Motors Slovakia is the first assembly plat of Kia Motors Corporation in Europe. The plant was built in the years 2004 to 2006. Production of vehicles as well as engines for passenger cars started in December 2006. Kia is employing over 2,900 people in Slovakia and is producing the compact Kia cee’d, SUVs Kia Sportage and Hyundai ix35. The plant operates two shifts.
SITA
