Kia Corporation has marked a major milestone in its PBV strategy to create versatile, modular electric vehicles designed to be adapted for various purposes beyond simple transportation with the completion of the Hwaseong EVO Plant East and the groundbreaking for EVO Plant West, setting the stage for a future production hub dedicated to ‘Platform Beyond Vehicle’ technology — to create versatile, modular electric vehicles (EVs) designed to be adapted for various purposes beyond simple transportation. Together, the two facilities will give Kia an annual PBV production capacity of 250,000 units, reinforcing its ambition to lead the world in next-generation mobility solutions.
The ceremony took place at Kia’s AutoLand Hwaseong plant in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, attended by around 200 guests, including government officials and senior executives from Hyundai Motor Group. Among those present were Min-seok Kim, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, and Euisun Chung, executive chair of Hyundai Motor Group, alongside Kia president and global CEO Ho Sung Song. The scale of the investment reflects Kia’s commitment to innovation, with approximately KRW4 trillion allocated for infrastructure and R&D across a site spanning nearly 297,000m
2.
Ho Sung Song highlighted the strategic importance of the project, said: “Kia is leveraging the electrification of light commercial vehicles as a key opportunity to position PBVs as a core future business. 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.”
The Hwaseong EVO Plant embodies Kia’s vision of advanced, sustainable manufacturing. Designed to minimise carbon footprint, the facility integrates automation and human-centric processes under Hyundai Motor and Kia’s E-FOREST smart factory brand. From smart logistics systems using automated guided vehicles in the body shop to dry booths in the paint shop that reduce controlled substances, every detail reflects a focus on efficiency and environmental responsibility. In final assembly, automation of heavy component installation and low-noise equipment create a safer, more ergonomic environment for workers.
Ramp up of productionThe newly completed EVO Plant East occupies 98,433m
2 and will produce 100,000 units annually, focusing on Kia’s PV5 mid-size PBV range, including passenger, cargo, chassis cab and wheelchair-accessible models. EVO Plant West, scheduled to begin operations in 2027, will add capacity for 150,000 units of Kia’s upcoming large-size PBV models, such as the PV7. Together, these facilities will enable Kia to deliver a full PBV line-up.
Complementing this is Kia’s dedicated PBV Conversion Centre, developed in collaboration with strategic partners. Built on a 63,728m
2 site, the centre will produce customised models based on the PV5 and future PBVs, including open-bed trucks, box vans and camping vehicles. It will also serve as a hub for fostering a sustainable PBV ecosystem through close industry partnerships.
Kia plans to accelerate its RE100 initiative by installing a 50MW solar power generation facility within AutoLand Hwaseong, further underscoring its commitment to sustainability. Once the EVO Plant East, EVO Plant West and Conversion Centre are fully operational, Kia will have established a comprehensive PBV hub capable of producing its entire line-up.
Industry analysts view this as a bold move to secure leadership in the PBV sector. Kia’s strategy focuses on five pillars — product, manufacturing, solutions, services and channels — to reinforce its global EV leadership and deliver innovative, sustainable mobility solutions. Ho Sung Song concluded: “Our ambition is to lead the new mobility environment and create solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers worldwide.”