Kia to help develop Kazakhstan's national auto brand after Tokayev meeting

September 15, 2026 at 11:08 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kia representatives announced their intention to jointly develop Kazakhstan's national automobile brand during a meeting between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Hyundai Motor Group President Sung Kim on September 15. Tokayev emphasized deepening localization and expanding auto component production. The meeting also produced agreements on a gas processing plant in West Kazakhstan and production of a new Hyundai Tucson model.

Key Facts

Kia representatives announced their intention to jointly develop Kazakhstan's national automobile brand.
Hyundai Motor Company and Astana Motors exchanged an agreement on production of a new Hyundai Tucson model.
QazaqGaz, Hyundai Engineering, and SICIM Kazakhstan exchanged agreements on construction of a gas processing plant in West Kazakhstan.
President Tokayev set the task of transforming Kazakhstan into a major regional center for automobile production and export with a focus on full-cycle production.
Hyundai Motor Group President Sung Kim confirmed the company's intention to expand its presence and deepen production localization in Kazakhstan.

Meeting Details

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Hyundai Motor Group President and Head of Strategy and Planning Sung Kim on September 15, according to the Akorda press service. The two sides discussed prospects for expanding investment and industrial-technological cooperation, as well as implementation of new large-scale projects in Kazakhstan. Representatives of Hyundai Engineering and Kia, both part of Hyundai Motor Group, also participated in the discussion from the Korean side.

Localization and Export Goals

Tokayev noted Hyundai Motor Group's significant contribution to the development of Kazakhstan's automobile industry and stressed the importance of further deepening localization, expanding auto component production, and increasing the industry's export potential. He specifically highlighted the role of the existing Hyundai plant in Almaty and Kia plant in Kostanay. The president set the task of transforming Kazakhstan into a major regional center for automobile production and export, with an emphasis on developing full-cycle production. Tokayev also identified electric transport as another important area of partnership, including production of electric vehicles, components, and creation of charging infrastructure.

Agreements Signed

Following the meeting, QazaqGaz, Hyundai Engineering, and SICIM Kazakhstan exchanged agreements on construction of a gas processing plant in West Kazakhstan. Hyundai Motor Company and Astana Motors exchanged an agreement on production of a new Hyundai Tucson model.