Kia India has reported 900 Engines have been stolen but assures the production is unaffected.

In a shocking revelation, around 900 Kia car engines have reportedly been stolen over the last five years from the automaker’s manufacturing facility located in Penukonda, Sri Sathya Sai district, Andhra Pradesh. The large-scale theft has prompted Kia Motors India to file a police complaint, following which an official investigation has been launched.

900 Kia Engines Stolen: How?

According to Penukonda Sub-Divisional Police Officer Y Venkateshwarlu, the thefts began in 2020 and continued undetected for nearly five years.

“It (the thefts) started in 2020. It has been a continuous process for nearly five years. We will go deep into the investigation,” said Venkateshwarlu.

A preliminary investigation has confirmed that approximately 900 engines were stolen either during transit to the plant or from within the factory premises itself. Initially, police believed that the engines might have been stolen en route from Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh. However, recent findings suggest that the thefts took place inside Kia’s Penukonda facility by manipulating inventory records.

“It’s not outsiders—it’s from within. Not even a small part can leave the premises without the management’s knowledge. We’re investigating who was involved,” added Venkateshwarlu.

The formal police complaint was filed by Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director and CEO of Kia Motors India, with the Penukonda Industrial Estate Police on March 19, 2025. The company reportedly discovered the missing engines during its year-end audit in March.

Police suspect that the operation was executed in a planned and phase-wise manner with possible involvement from both former and current employees.

“We conducted a preliminary inquiry, found certain loopholes, and are now targeting former employees, though we believe some current employees may also be involved,” said the officer.

Sri Sathya Sai district SP, V Rathna, has also visited the plant as part of the investigation. He confirmed that three special teams have been formed to probe the case and that officers are travelling across India to gather relevant documents and records.

Despite the serious nature of the theft, Kia Motors India has stated that its production capacity remains unaffected. The automaker continues to maintain an annual output of 3,00,000 to 4,00,000 units, depending on demand.

So far, Kia has not publicly shared specific details regarding how the thefts went unnoticed for such a long period or the total value of the stolen engines. The company has also not responded to email queries seeking further clarification.