Kia to establish vehicle plant in Kazakhstan next year

A new Kia vehicle plant will be launched in the Kostanay region in October 2025, the President’s Office said in a statement, citing Kia Qazaqstan Managing Director Kim Dae-Ki’s report to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. 

The first test vehicle is scheduled for production in July 2025. The first model chosen for serial production at the plant is the Kia Sorento followed by the updated version of Sportage in January 2026. The plant will have an annual capacity of 70,000 vehicles.

Construction of the facility began in October 2023. It will be equipped with 70 robotic systems across the welding, coating and assembly lines. The project is estimated to cost $200 million, with 80% funded through direct foreign investments. The facility is expected to create 1,500 new jobs.

A localization center is set to be built near the plant, where the car components like bumpers, seats, flooring, ceiling and exhaust pipes will be produced. Kia is also searching for global spare part and component suppliers.

According to the statement, representatives of leading South Korean enterprises, KCC Corporation and Seoyon E-hwa Global Business Group, expressed their willingness to establish their facilities in Kazakhstan.

As First Vice Prime Minister Roman Sklyar highlighted, the new Kazakhstani plant is going to be the first production facility KIA finances outside of South Korea.