Kia has started EV2 production in Slovakia, adding a second Europe-built EV model.
Plant upgrades completed in 2025 enable EV2 assembly alongside hybrid and combustion vehicles.
Long-range EV2 production is scheduled to begin in June 2026.
Kia has started building the EV2 at its Žilina plant in Slovakia, adding another locally produced EV model to its European manufacturing network. The EV2 is Kia’s second fully electric vehicle assembled in Europe, following the EV4, and will add volume to the company’s regional electrification plans.
Kia Introduces EV2 as City-Friendly Electric SUV at 2026 Brussels Motor Show
Production of the B-segment electric SUV follows a plant modernization programme completed last year. Kia said the work included updated production lines, new robotics and other manufacturing changes to support EV assembly alongside hybrid and internal-combustion models.
The EV2 is positioned as a compact vehicle for urban and regional use. The model will be offered with two battery packs: a 42.2-kWh standard-range version and a 61.0-kWh long-range version. Targeted driving range is up to WLTP 317 km (271 km EPA) for the smaller pack and up to 453 km (388 km EPA) for the larger battery, with final certification still pending.
Charging capability includes 400V DC fast charging, 11-kW AC charging and 22-kW AC charging. The vehicle also carries connected functions such as EV route planning, Plug & Charge and bidirectional charging. Inside, Kia is highlighting rear-seat flexibility, cargo space of up to 403 litres, over-the-air software updates and a full suite of driver-assistance systems.
The EV2 arrives at a plant that remains one of Kia’s key manufacturing sites in Europe. Opened in 2004, the nearly two-square-kilometre facility employs about 3,700 people and uses more than 600 robots across press, body, paint, engine and final assembly operations.
The Kia EV2 is not expected to be offered in North America, however, as the Chinese automakers begin to plot out a course to Canada, Kia should revise that stance. Like the Canada-only EV5, the EV2, if priced right, could serve to keep the Korean automaker firmly in place as a key provider of affordable electric mobility.
Rumours of sub-$30k BYD vehicles slated for Canada should worry Kia and other car companies. A wait-and-see approach could be devastating. As such, vehicles like the EV2 and EV3 should be fast-tracked to our shores.
