Kia is weighing a plan to move its entire European electric-vehicle production to Žilina, Slovakia, according to Slovak media reports citing the Korean daily Seoul Economic Daily. Under the scenario, vehicles with combustion engines would continue to be exported to Europe from South Korea — meaning the Žilina factory could drop combustion models altogether.
The plant near Žilina is Kia's only European factory and currently builds electric models alongside combustion vehicles. Concentrating all Europe-bound EV output at the site would cut the group's costs and secure access to EU support, Denník E reported, as the bloc steps up efforts to strengthen its own industrial base. The daily stressed, however, that the idea is one of several options under internal consideration — not an approved investment plan, and no timeline has been reported.
For Slovakia's supplier industry, the stakes are considerable. A full EV mandate for Žilina would shift local sourcing further toward electric-vehicle components just as global parts demand climbs: Mordor Intelligence projects the automotive parts industry to reach USD 151.2 billion by 2032, with Asia-Pacific holding 46 percent of parts sales value in 2026 on the back of rising vehicle production. Localised EV assembly backed by EU support would hand Central European suppliers a stronger position as they compete with an Asia-Pacific region that already accounts for nearly half of global parts sales.
If confirmed, Žilina would become Kia's European EV manufacturing centre, while combustion models would reach European showrooms as imports from Korea. The move would deliver a further boost to Slovakia, whose automotive sector has recently attracted a €480 million battery plant in Šurany backed by VW's PowerCo. For CEE dealers, importers and fleet buyers, the decision would shape which powertrains — and which production origins — dominate Kia's European line-up in the years ahead.
Whatever Žilina's final role turns out to be, buyers do not have to wait: Kia's electric and combustion models are already available across the European market today. Readers looking for a vehicle can find sensational cars at sensational conditions at WorldTrader24, Europe's marketplace with over 70,000 vehicles, where dealers and private buyers will also find a broad selection of electrified models in stock.
