Kia Corporation and its Kazakh partners have officially opened the Kia Qazaqstan plant in Kostanay in northern Kazakhstan, Kia said in a statement.

The $310mn facility, located on a 630,000 square-metre site, is one of the most advanced and automated automotive plants in Central Asia, featuring 68 industrial robots and full-cycle production capabilities — from body welding and painting to final assembly and testing. The plant is designed to produce up to 70,000 vehicles annually, beginning with the Kia Sorento this month, followed by the Sportage from January.

In a video address during the inauguration ceremony, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hailed the project as “a bright example of the strategic partnership and successful relations between Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea,” describing Korea as “a reliable partner for Kazakhstan in Asia.” He added that the facility would “become a new growth point for the Kazakh automotive industry” and contribute to “the dynamic renewal of the domestic vehicle fleet.”

The opening ceremony was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, Kia president and CEO Ho Sung Song, and Andrey Lavrentyev, chairman of Allur Group, Kia’s local partner, alongside national and regional officials.

Ho Sung Song said the plant would serve as a foundation for long-term cooperation and technological exchange between the two countries.
“Kia Qazaqstan will play a vital role in laying a strong foundation for the development of the automotive industry in Kazakhstan. We aspire to establish Kia as a trusted national brand built on lasting partnerships with the people and institutions of Kazakhstan,” he said.

The Kostanay facility is to adhere to Kia’s global standards for quality, sustainability and safety, with the company noting that it represents not only a new manufacturing base but also a platform for future localisation, the development of supplier clusters and the growth of regional exports.

Kazakh officials said the plant will deepen industrial ties between Kazakhstan and South Korea, positioning Kazakhstan as an emerging automotive hub for Central Asia by leveraging its strategic location, local engineering expertise and expanding logistics infrastructure.