New Sportage CUV demand on rise, Kia adding third shift

Kia Motors plans plans to recruit 1.000 new employees at its European manufacturing plant to meet rising demand for the new Sportage CUV!

Due to fantastic sales results achieved during the first 8 months of 2011 (+ 18 percent) and increased demand for Kia’s recently launched Sportage CUV, the South Korean carmaker plans to significantly increase production of their European-made vehicles.

Kia’s 1-billion Euro manufacturing plant has been designed for maximum flexibility in order to accommodate new models and respond to market trend fluctuations. Currently, the Slovakia-based plant produces popular Venga mini-mpv, three versions of the C-segment cee’d (3-door, 5-door and sporty wagon) and new Sportage CUV.

Reportedly, the plant is also preparing to start an assembly of an unspecified new model – probably the next-generation Kia cee’d, which is scheduled hit the market next year.

To keep up with rising demand for its popular models in the European market, the decision has been made to hire additional 1.000 new employees. Recruitment will be completed by the end of December and will allow the carmaker to run three-shift operations at its production plant in the first quarter of 2012.

Increased production at Kia’s European plant will also result in several thousand new jobs that will be created at parts suppliers located across the Slovak Republic.

Earlier this month, Kia also implemented a third shift at its West Point plant in Georgia in the USA, which builds the top-selling Sorento and, starting from September, also the all-new 2012 Kia Optima.