After the EV4 has been in production for some time, Kia has started production of the EV2 in Europe. More precisely, the second fully electric vehicle that is produced in Europe has started rolling off the production lines in the Slovak town of Žilina. This represents another step forward in Kia’s electrification strategy for the Old Continent. The B-segment SUV will be produced in Kia Slovakia, after the modernization program of the production lines, which was completed in 2025.
‘The start of production of the EV2 continues to test our technical capabilities and flexibility in Europe,’ said Soohang Chang, president and CEO of Kia Europe, and continued: ‘When the EV4 went into production in August last year, we demonstrated our ability to simultaneously produce all-electric models and cars with hybrid and internal combustion engines. Now, with the addition of the EV2, our Slovakian plant’s production will better support Kia’s electrification strategy in Europe.’
Numerous production processes for the local production of electric vehicles have been perfected in preparation for the launch of EV4 production. In addition to expert employees, there are also hundreds of robots supported by advanced production technologies, which together help the process of the EV2 model coming off the production line.
The EV2 is a member of the B-SUV segment. It is a model that is offered with two battery options, namely 42.2 kWh and 61 kWh. The declared range according to WLTP is up to 317 or 453 kilometers. There are flexible charging options, including 400 V DC fast charging, 11 kW or 22 kW AC charging. Connected services, such as route planning for electric vehicles and two-way charging, simplify usage. The EV2 is designed to serve as the primary car in a household and is focused on everyday usability. Its compact size still offers generous legroom, with sliding and reclining rear seats and up to 403 liters of luggage space.
Kia Slovakia was founded in 2004 in Žilina, in order to better supply key European markets. The almost two square kilometer factory employs around 3,700 people and uses more than 600 advanced robots in five main production areas: press, body, paint, engine and assembly. Last year, they invested more than 200 million euros in modernization, such as next-generation robotics, improvements to production lines and an improved working environment. The plant produced approximately 300,000 vehicles and around 470,000 engines in 2025, including the XCeed, Sportage and EV4, which were exported to 73 countries. These figures account for 9.3 percent of Kia’s global vehicle production.
In December of this year, Kia Slovakia will celebrate twenty years of European production, and it should be noted that they have integrated sustainability initiatives into their operations. For example, from the second quarter of 2026, a photovoltaic plant, which runs entirely on renewable electricity, is expected to generate up to 1.5 percent of the plant’s annual electricity needs.
