Kia unveils PBV production hub at Hwaseong EVO Plant

Kia has unveiled its PBV (Purpose-Built Vehicle) production hub strategy at the Hwaseong EVO Plant in South Korea. The facility is designed to establish a high-capacity production ecosystem capable of manufacturing 200,000 units annually across multiple models, including the PV5, PV7, and PV9.

To manage the complexity of diverse vehicle specifications, the plant utilizes a ‘4-Buck sequential assembly method.’ This process divides body assembly into four stages—inner buck, rail buck, outer buck, and roof buck—allowing for flexible production of different vehicle sizes and configurations on a single line. The facility integrates advanced robotics and vision systems for tasks ranging from emblem attachment to precision welding and 3D scanning for quality inspections.

Beyond manufacturing, Kia is developing a conversion ecosystem. This includes a dedicated conversion center with 98 work cells to customize vehicles for specific uses, such as cargo, passenger, or wheelchair-accessible models. Kia also plans to support external specialty vehicle manufacturers by providing ‘donor models’ and technical data through a specialized conversion portal.