KIA, Seyong EHWA to localize auto components production in KazakhstanThe South Korean automaker Kia plans to create a production of auto components in Kazakhstan, the press service of the President of Kazakhstan reported following a meeting between Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of Kia Corporation Ho-sung Song.“Ho-sung Song informed about the ongoing work to attract global suppliers of auto components. In particular, an agreement of intent has been signed with the Korean company Seyong EHWA (global supplier of auto components for Kia) on the construction of an auto components plant in Kazakhstan,” a statement released on Tuesday says.Tokayev welcomed Kia’s decision to localize the production of auto components in Kazakhstan, and noted the need to train domestic qualified specialists for the development of the industry.Ho-sung Song also told Tokayev about the construction progress at the full-cycle car production plant in Kostanay, which will be completed before the end of this year. More than 90 billion tenge of investments were attracted to implement the project. It is planned to create 1,500 permanent jobs. The design capacity of the plant will be 70,000 cars per year, while 50,000 cars will be produced using the completely knocked down assembly method, that is, with a higher share of local content.As reported, in August 2023, a Kazakh-South Korean joint venture (JV) Kia Qazaqstan was created. It was expected that the full production cycle at the new Kia plant will be opened in 2025.Kia cars have been assembled in Kazakhstan since 2021 at the SaryarkaAvtoProm plant (a subsidiary of the Allur group) in Kostanay.In January 2023, completely knocked down assembly (CKD) of Kia cars (Sportage model) was launched at the Allur automobile plant in the Kostanay region. President of Kazakhstan Tokayev took part in the launching ceremony. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX