The auto giant has secured a site of 296,882sqm and is investing approximately KRW 4tn in infrastructure
Kia Corporation celebrated the completion of its dedicated Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) facility, the Hwaseong EVO Plant East and the breaking of ground for the EVO Plant West, a large-scale PBV production facility in Korea.
Combined, Kia will have an annual PBV production capacity of 250,000 units as part of its aim to establish a future PBV production hub.
The ceremony was held at Kia’s AutoLand Hwaseong plant, located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. The event was attended by around 200 guests, including Min-seok Kim, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea; Shinhak Moon, Vice Minister of Trade Industry and Resources (MOTIR) of the Republic of Korea; Dong Yeon Kim, Governor of Gyeonggi Province; Myeong-geun Jeong, Mayor of Hwaseong Special City, and local National Assembly members.
From Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) key executives in attendance included Euisun Chung, Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group; Ho Sung Song, Kia President and Global CEO; Sung Kim, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Strategic Planning Division; and Chang Song, President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Advanced Vehicle Planning (AVP) Division.
PBV-dedicated facilities
To support construction of the PBV-dedicated facilities, including the newly completed EVO Plant East and the EVO Plant West, scheduled for operation in 2027, Kia has secured a site of 296,882sqm and is investing approximately KRW 4tn (US$ 2.72bn) in infrastructure and research and development.
Leveraging a combined annual capacity of 250,000 units, Kia plans to position the Hwaseong EVO Plant (East and West) as a future strategic hub to drive the global expansion of the company’s PBV business.
“We will usher in a new era of innovation in future mobility together with the automotive industry, embracing new challenges including electrification, autonomous driving, and AI,” affirmed the Prime Minister.
“As we continue our journey toward sustainable future mobility, Kia remains committed to becoming a trusted partner in building a better future for Korea — and for humanity as a whole,” asserted Ho Sung Song.
Hwaseong EVO Plant
The name ‘EVO Plant’ combines ‘Evolution’ and ‘Plant’, reflecting Kia’s commitment to pursuing evolution and innovation, and its ambition to become a brand that leads the new mobility environment.
Hwaseong EVO Plant applies a wide range of future-oriented manufacturing technologies and is designed to minimize carbon footprint. The facility emphasizes automation, sustainability, and a human-centric environment, with each process integrating features that reflect these priorities.
In the body shop, a smart logistics system has been implemented through the integration of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and other advanced technologies.
The newly completed EVO Plant East is a dedicated PBV facility built on a 98,433sqm site, with an annual production capacity of 100,000 units for Kia’s PV5 mid-size PBV, including the Passenger, Cargo, Chassis Cab, and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) models.
EVO Plant West will be built on a 136,671sqm site, securing an annual production capacity of 150,000 units for Kia’s upcoming large-size PBV models, including the PV7. Once both EVO Plant East and West are fully operational, Kia will establish a full PBV lineup with an annual capacity of 250,000 units.
