Kia could build EVs in Mexico

Kia is looking to produce an electric model at its plant in Nuevo León, Mexico. Though the carmaker has not confirmed this, it could be the EV9.

State governor Samuel Garcia announced the news on Twitter. “Good news”, he writes. “Nuevo León consolidates its position as a hub for electric mobility”, as Kia looks to invest in and expand its plant in the Mexican state. The goal is to manufacture two vehicles there. One of them is likely the EV9.

Though neither Kia nor the governor named the model that will roll off the production line there, photos in the latter’s tweet show the Kia EV9, which was unveiled at the end of March. The EV was presented at the end of March and will thus be manufactured in South Korea, the US state of Georgia, and soon Mexico.

There are no details about the second vehicle that will be produced there. However, some media reports say that both cars will be electric. That scenario is very likely, considering the governor called the region an “electric mobility hub” on Twitter.

The governor also wrote on Twitter that the carmaker would invest up to $1 billion in the expansion. However, that part of the announcement was later deleted, so there are no confirmed details about the investment sum or Kia’s timetable.

The Kia plant in Nuevo León started operations in May 2016 and currently has a capacity of 400,000 vehicles per year. It produces several models, including the Kia Forte and the Kia Rio.

nl.gob.mx (in Spanish), ajudaily.com, yna.co.kr, twitter.com