Kia Motors reported on Thursday that 108,000 vehicles were produced at its European plant in Zilina, Slovakia in the first six months of the year. Daily production at the plant averaged at 850 units, while the most productive month was April, when more than 19.000 cars and SUVs were built. Kia currently produces three different variants of cee’d model (five-door, three-door and sporty wagon) and Sportage SUV in Slovakia.

The most popular choice among buyers so far was the Cee’d Sporty Wagon, taking up 35.84 percent of the production. Second came the five-door cee’d, which sales accounted for 30.74 percent, while Sportage came third. It was followed by sporty pro_cee’d (16.66 percent). The Cee’d represent around 83 percent of the total production at the plant.

The most demanded among five available engines (three petrol and two diesel), was the 1.6L diesel engine, representing as much as 41.8 percent of the car sales volume.

Through improving the production effectiveness of built cars, the company is looking to produce record-high 220.000 vehicles by the end of the 2008. Along with the production report, Kia also revealed its plans to start production of the fourth cee’d variant, reportedly named Eco_cee’d, by the end of the year. Thanks to several technical adjustments to the basic car, the fuel consumption and emissions output on Eco_cee’d has substantially been reduced. More information about the Eco_cee’d will soon be released. [Source: Kia]