Kia’s European manufacturing facility at Zilina, Slovakia, has set a new car production record during the first six months of 2012, building 149,000 vehicles – a 10 per cent year-on-year increase.

At the beginning of 2012, Kia Motors Slovakia introduced third-shift working and went on to start volume production of the new generation Kia cee’d in April, alongside the Kia Sportage and Kia Venga.

To meet demand for the new cee’d model, output was boosted by 17 per cent in the second quarter with more than 80,000 units produced.  At the same time, engine production for a variety of Kia vehicles over six months recorded a 22 per cent increase to 237,000 units, compared to 2011. Manufacture of the new cee’d wagon is scheduled to begin in the third quarter, with the new three-door pro_cee’d model joining the production line-up early in 2013.

“I am glad, that thanks to our employees’ hard work, we were able to set a new production record of 149,000 cars during the first six months of 2012,” commented Mr E.H. Lee, President and CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia.  “I believe we are set to meet our plans to produce more than 285,000 Kia vehicles this year for our European and Russian customers.”