Key Points:
- Hyundai Mobis began commercial production of power electric (PE) systems at a new manufacturing plant in Novaky, Slovakia.
- The facility covers a 106,000-square-meter site and holds an annual production capacity of 280,000 PE systems.
- Power electric systems integrate an electric motor, inverter, and reduction gear to convert battery electricity into drive torque.
- The plant marks Hyundai Mobis’s first European PE base, connecting with battery facilities in the Czech Republic and Spain.
South Korean automotive parts supplier Hyundai Mobis began commercial production of power electric (PE) systems at a brand-new factory in Slovakia, significantly expanding its electric vehicle component manufacturing footprint across Europe. The company celebrated the factory opening with an official ceremony at the Novaky facility in the Trencin Region. Senior leadership, including Hyundai Mobis Chief Executive Officer Lee Gyu-suk and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, joined regional industrial leaders to inaugurate the advanced powertrain manufacturing center.
The Novaky manufacturing facility represents Hyundai Mobis’s first dedicated power electric system production base on the European continent. The complex sits on a 106,000-square-meter site, an area equivalent to roughly 15 regulation soccer fields, with an initial factory floor area of 8,500 square meters. The plant boasts an annual manufacturing capacity of 280,000 electric power systems, providing dedicated production volume to support the rapid rollout of next-generation electric and electrified hybrid cars across the region.
A power electric system operates as the mechanical heart of a battery-powered vehicle, functioning as the modern equivalent of an internal combustion engine. The integrated unit combines three critical components into a compact housing: a high-efficiency electric drive motor, an electronic power inverter, and a reduction gear transmission. The system converts high-voltage direct-current electricity from the vehicle’s battery pack into mechanical torque, delivering instantaneous acceleration to the wheels while managing regenerative braking during deceleration.
Establishing localized electric power production allows Hyundai Motor Group to optimize assembly timelines and reduce supply-chain overhead for its primary European vehicle manufacturing hubs. The Novaky facility will supply completed drive units directly to the nearby Kia assembly plant in Zilina, Slovakia, which builds electric and plug-in hybrid SUVs for European customers. The plant will also ship drive units across the border to the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech facility in Nosovice, supporting production of high-volume electric crossovers.
The Slovak facility integrates with Hyundai Mobis’s broader European manufacturing triangle, joining established production bases in the Czech Republic and Spain. In Nosovice, Czech Republic, the company manufactures high-capacity battery system assemblies (BSA) directly adjacent to Hyundai’s vehicle production lines. Meanwhile, in Navarra, Spain, Hyundai Mobis is completing a dedicated battery assembly plant to supply modular battery packs for European automotive partners, including Volkswagen Group.
The Novaky investment arrives as European governments and automotive manufacturers push to localize critical green technology supply chains. Under the European Union’s evolving industrial policies and local content regulations, automotive brands face mounting financial and trade pressures to source core electric vehicle powertrains within the trade bloc. By manufacturing electric motors, inverters, and battery systems inside European borders, Hyundai Mobis protects its parent group from supply chain tariffs and intercontinental maritime shipping bottlenecks.
The high-tech plant incorporates advanced industrial automation, smart robotics, and digital quality monitoring systems. Automated guided vehicles transport component sub-assemblies between cleanroom assembly stations, while computer vision cameras and artificial intelligence inspection algorithms verify motor winding precision, sealant integrity, and electrical insulation at every stage. This automated quality control pipeline ensures that all 280,000 units meet strict automotive safety and durability standards.
The project provides a substantial economic boost to the Trencin Region in Central Slovakia, creating hundreds of high-skilled technical and engineering jobs. The plant provides employment opportunities for electrical engineers, automated robotics technicians, and precision assembly specialists. Slovak government authorities supported the project with competitive regional development incentives, viewing the facility as a strategic anchor to transition the country’s extensive automotive industrial base toward zero-emission mobility.
Beyond supplying internal group brands Hyundai and Kia, Hyundai Mobis is leveraging its localized European manufacturing network to win long-term supply contracts from competing global automakers. European legacy car brands are increasingly outsourcing complex powertrain electronics, power distribution units, and chassis modules to established Tier-1 suppliers to reduce their own capital expenditure burdens. Having active, high-volume production facilities in Slovakia and Spain positions Hyundai Mobis to secure multi-billion-dollar component supply agreements across the continent.
As global automakers accelerate electric vehicle transitions despite shifting consumer adoption curves, Hyundai Mobis is building an agile, globally distributed manufacturing footprint. The activation of the Novaky plant gives the South Korean supplier a resilient European supply chain capable of producing critical electric powertrains, battery assemblies, and electronic modules locally. By anchoring production inside the European market, Hyundai Mobis is positioning itself as an indispensable technology partner for the future of European electric mobility.
