Overview
- Kia has started manufacturing the EV3 at its Pesquería, Nuevo León plant, making Mexico the only production base for that model outside South Korea.
- The company invested $649 million to adapt the Pesquería facility for the EV3 and says the plant’s installed capacity is 400,000 vehicles with 2026 output projected to top 300,000 units.
- The EV3 debuts with roughly 26–27% Mexican parts content and Kia says it expects to increase that share gradually by developing local suppliers.
- Kia plans to sell about 500 EV3 units in Mexico this year and to ship to other Latin American markets, while exports to the United States remain unconfirmed and are being reported as dealer expectations rather than company commitments.
- Mexico’s Plan México sets a target of 50% national proveeduría in strategic sectors and the Economy Ministry says supplier integration from new lines like the EV3 will take about three to four years, a change that could create specialized manufacturing jobs and shift more component work to Mexican firms.