Hyundai, Kia to Reshuffle Production at Czech and Slovak Factories

Hyundai Motors Manufacturing Czech (HMMC) has launched serial production of the Hyundai ix35 compact SUV, which has been transferred from Kia Motors Slovakia’s (KMS) nearby plant in Zilina. Similarly, production of the Kia Venga small MPVs has been moved from the Czech plant to Slovakia.

Both plants already produce some parts for each other and transferring production will help rebalance capacity utilization between the two factories. The South Korean car maker expects demand for SUVs to continue growing while interest in compact cars is set to stagnate.

Kia also produces cee’d compact cars as well as Sportage SUVs in Slovakia, while Hyundai’s Czech plant assembles the i30 compact and the ix20 small MPV. Both factories are capable of producing 300,000 cars a year.