Kia opens phase one of dedicated PBV production hub in Korea
According to Kia, the EVO plants integrate advanced automation and low-carbon technologies, including AGV-based logistics, dry-booth paint processes and smart-factory systems under the Hyundai Motor and Kia E-FOREST brand. Production lines will combine conveyor and cell-based manufacturing to enable multiple EV body types to be built simultaneously.
The now-commissioned EVO Plant East will produce 100,000 units of the PV5 each year, while EVO Plant West will add 150,000 units of larger PBV models, including the PV7. The latter is scheduled to go into operation in 2027. The manufacturer states that it will have invested around 4 trillion South Korean won (equivalent to around 2.4 billion euros) in the 296,882-square-metre site, once it is completed.
On top of the first phase of the production plant, Kia also announced a PBV Conversion Centre. There, it will work with strategic partners to co-develop specialised PBV variants. Based on Kia’s first PBV, the PV5, the centre will support customised applications such as open-bed trucks, box vans and camping vehicles, and will later add conversions for the PV7 and other models. Kia states that the centre will “foster a collaborative PBV ecosystem” and act as a strategic base for global expansion.
“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,” said South Korean Min-seok Kim, who was present at the completion ceremony.
“Kia is leveraging the electrification of light commercial vehicles as a key opportunity to position PBVs as a core future business,” said Ho Sung Song, Kia President and Global CEO. “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.”
Kia first announced the production facility for what it then called “Purpose Built Vehicles” in Hwaseong in 2022. And it is right on schedule, as the plan always was to complete the first phase by the end of 2025. Earlier this year, the manufacturer also opened its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in the US state of Georgia. It has a production capacity of 300,000 units – though it not only manufactures EVs but also hybrids.
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