South Korean automobile manufacturer Kia maintains 14 manufacturing facilities in eight countries along with research centres in South Korea, the US, Japan, and Germany. Kia has four manufacturing plants in South Korea and additional plants in China, India, Japan, Mexico, Slovakia, the United States and Vietnam.
Design centers
Namyang Design Center
The Namyang Design Center, located in Hwaseong, South Korea, serves as Kia's primary design facility. The facility, which is shared with parent company Hyundai, is located on over 3.3 million square meters of land and serves as the central hub for engineering work encompassing the entire design process, from pre-design studies, prototyping and extensive track testing, and full-scale wind tunnel aerodynamic testing. to crash testing. Kia and Hyundai employees from around the world receive training at the Namyang Center.
Kia Design Center America
The Kia Design Center America in Irvine, California, is located on a corporate campus with a $130 million initial investment, the Irvine, California Kia Design Center was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and was completed in 2008, featuring 45 workstations and nine offices. The studio can model up to eight vehicles at once and includes a computerized milling machine that can quickly create full-size models. Work and presentation areas include a 2-D presentation room, "a kind of darkroom in virtual reality where up to three full-size digital images can be projected for evaluation and comparison."
The building features a hallmark entry canopy and sits aside a reflecting pool. The parking lot includes an environmentally efficient bioswale system to filter water runoff. Kia Design Center, Irvine, CA
Kia Design Center Europe
The Kia Design Center Europe was opened in 2007 in Frankfurt, Germany. Kia had previously shared a facility with Hyundai in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The new headquarters building is located adjacent to Frankfurt's main showground where the city hosts its biennial auto show.
Kia Design Center China
The Hyundai-Kia R&D center in China is located in both Shanghai and Yantai.
Manufacturing facilities
South Korea
Autoland Gwangmyeong
The Autoland Gwangmyeong (formerly known as Sohari Plant) in Soha-dong, Gwangmyeong is Kia's first integrated automobile manufacturing plant, established in 1973 on of land. The plant is near the country's capital of Seoul in Gyeonggi province, with ready access to labor, other resources and transportation facilities, as well as the Seoul metropolitan area.
The factory currently manufactures the Kia Carnival/Sedona (and its variant the Hyundai Entourage, 2007–2009), Kia Rio, Kia Stonic, Kia Stinger and Kia K9/Quoris/K900, with an annual output of 340,000 vehicles.
The Sohari Plant manufactured Kia's first internal combustion engine, followed by the manufacture of its first automobile, the Kia Brisa (1974–1982). In 1975, Kia exported its first vehicle, the Brisa pickup, to the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar.
The South Korean government forced Kia to halt car production in 1981, assessing the Korean auto market as too competitive. In 1986, the government allowed the company to resume manufacturing with its agreement to build the Ford Festiva for export.
The Sohari Plant manufactured the Kia Pride and its rebadged variants the Ford Festiva and Mazda 121, as well as the subsequent Kia Avella and its variant, the Ford Aspire.
Kia Sohari Plant
Kia Brisa (1974–1982)
Autoland Hwasung
Located in Woojeong-myeon, Gyeonggi Province and established in 1991, the plant covers of land and manufactures the Kia Optima/K5, Kia Cadenza/K7, Kia Forte/Cerato, Kia Sorento, Kia Mohave/Borrego, Kia EV6, and Kia Niro. By July 2001, cumulative production passed 3 million. The facility maintains a proving ground with a high-speed oval, 12 different test tracks extending to a total length of and 32 different road surfaces. Kia Hwasung Plant
Autoland Gwangju
Located in Gwangju on approximately of land, the facility produces the Kia Soul, Kia Seltos, Kia Carens/Rondo, Kia Sportage, and Kia Bongo/K-Series, as well as buses and military vehicles.
Formerly Asia Motors used this plant until 1999.
Seosan Plant
Located in Seosan, the facility opened in 2004 as a joint venture with Donghee. It manufactures 230,000 units a year and is the producer of the Kia Picanto/Morning and Kia Ray.