[Exclusive] Kia's First Dedicated Electric Vehicle CV to Be Produced at Hwaseong Plant 3

Kia Motors Labor and Management Agree to Produce CV at 'Hwaseong Plant 3' Next Year
CV, Kia's First Electric Vehicle Dedicated Platform Model
Hwaseong Plant to Be Developed as Eco-Friendly Vehicle Export Strategy Base
High-Performance Electric CUV CV Expected to Launch Around June Next Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] The production site for Kia Motors' first dedicated electric vehicle model, the CV, has been decided as the 'Hwaseong Plant 3'. Starting with the production of the electric vehicle dedicated model CV next year, Kia plans to develop the Hwaseong Plant into a global hub for eco-friendly vehicle exports.

According to industry sources on the 6th, Kia's labor and management recently agreed to produce the crossover utility vehicle (CUV) CV, the brand's first model to apply the dedicated electric vehicle platform (E-GMP), at Hwaseong Plant 3 starting next year. After the agreement, line modification work is underway during the factory's vacation period, and full-scale production is expected to begin in the first half of next year. Considering Hyundai Motor Company's electric vehicle NE, which applies the same platform and is scheduled for mass production starting January next year, the launch of Kia's CV is expected as early as June next year.

Electric crossover vehicle (CUV) concept 'Imagine by KIA' showcasing Kia Motors' electric vehicle design direction / Photo by Kia Motors

The reason Kia chose Hwaseong Plant as the production base for the dedicated electric vehicle model is primarily due to its geographical advantage. Located near Pyeongtaek Port, Hwaseong Plant is the only domestic Kia factory capable of direct export using maritime logistics. It has a site area of 3,305,785㎡ (1 million pyeong), which is 1.3 times the size of Yeouido, with an annual production capacity of 563,000 units. It exports strategic models such as the K3, K5, K7, Niro, Sorento, and Mohave to over 170 countries worldwide. Kia's choice of Hwaseong Plant as the production site for eco-friendly strategic models is interpreted as a strategic move with future exports in mind.

Among them, Hwaseong Plant 3 produces about 180,000 units annually of the Kia K5 and K7. Hwaseong Plant 1 manufactures the K3, Mohave, and Sorento, while Hwaseong Plant 2 produces the K3 and Niro. Therefore, this decision can also be seen as an effort to balance the lines by adding a CUV lineup to Plant 3, which is the only one among the three plants producing only sedans.

Kia plans to introduce electric vehicle models for all new cars launched from 2022, starting with the CV release next year. Through this, the company aims to establish a full lineup of 11 electric vehicle models by 2025 and fill 20% of global sales with eco-friendly vehicles. In 2026, when the business is expected to be on track, Kia plans to sell 500,000 electric vehicles and 1 million eco-friendly vehicles.

Meanwhile, the CV, a CUV combining the advantages of passenger cars and recreational vehicles (RVs), will be launched as a high-performance electric vehicle equipped with an 800V battery capable of ultra-fast charging within 20 minutes, securing a driving range of 500 km. It will also provide differentiated user experiences (UX) through open innovation with various specialized companies. Last year, Kia made a large-scale investment in the Croatian high-performance electric vehicle company 'Rimac' and is collaborating with them. Additionally, Kia is developing an electric vehicle-specialized in-vehicle infotainment system with the domestic autonomous driving startup 'Code42'.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.