Kia Mexico announced a $649 million investment to strengthen its operations in Pesquería, Nuevo León, where it will produce the Kia EV3, the brand’s first electric vehicle assembled in Mexico and the first of this model manufactured outside of Korea.
The investment, which will be carried out between 2026 and 2028, is the most important made by the automaker in the country since the start of operations of its plant in 2016 and contemplates the generation of 500 new direct jobs this year and 1,500 by 2030.
During the Mexican government ‘s morning press conference, Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard emphasized that the project strengthens the country’s manufacturing capacity at a time of uncertainty for the global automotive industry.
“This is great news because it allows us to produce an electric vehicle in Mexico with a number of very advanced and highly competitive features,” he said.
The official explained that the EV3 will begin production on August 4th and that the vehicle will start with a national content of around 27%, a percentage that will increase as the integration of local suppliers strengthens.
He also emphasized that the investment responds to one of the central objectives of the Mexico Plan , focused on increasing the national content of manufacturing production and attracting high value-added projects.
“In a time of such uncertainty regarding the automotive industry, tariffs and new rules, this decision means that this company is seeing productivity and investment opportunities in Mexico and is making a decision that means technology, jobs and economic activity,” he stated.
In addition to allocating more than $260 million to the new EV3 production line , Kia will invest in sustainable infrastructure within its manufacturing complex, including expanding its solar power park and building a second water recycling plant.
Andy Kim, president and CEO of Kia Mexico, stated that the investments are part of the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy and are aligned with the objectives of the Mexico Plan.
“During these eleven years, thanks to the firm conviction of Made in Mexico for Mexico, Kia Mexico has grown in tandem with the Mexican economy,” he said.
For her part, Marianela Calderón, Director of Administration and Employee Experience, explained that the investments are based on four pillars: talent development, renewable energy, responsible water management, and electric mobility.
He explained that the plant is currently building a two-megawatt solar park, with a planned expansion to eight megawatts by 2030 , in addition to a new treatment plant that will allow the reuse of around 70% of the treated water used in operations.
The executive also highlighted the importance of the company’s supply chain, which includes more than 85,000 people in direct and indirect jobs, as well as the recent recognition of the Pesquería plant as one of the highest quality in the automotive industry on the continent.
Mexico, platform for the new generation of electric vehicles
Horacio Chávez, managing director of Kia Motors Mexico, stated that the project represents a strategic step to position the country within the transformation towards electric mobility.
“For the first time in our history, we will produce and market a fully electric vehicle in Mexico. This commitment is realized with the Kia EV3, which will be proudly made in Mexico,” he stated.
In addition to vehicle production, the project includes the development of charging solutions for homes, public spaces, and mobile roadside assistance using vehicle-to-vehicle charging technology, with the aim of facilitating the adoption of electric vehicles in the Mexican market.
Currently, the Pesquería plant is Kia’s only facility in Mexico. Since its opening in 2016, it has received an initial investment of one billion dollars and has contributed to the creation of more than 80,000 direct and indirect jobs.
With this new investment, the automaker incorporates Mexico into the global production of the EV3, a line that until now was manufactured exclusively in Korea, reinforcing the country’s position as a platform for the manufacture of new generation vehicles.
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