900 Kia car engines stolen from AP unit over 5 years; insider involvement suspected
900 Kia car engines stolen from manufacturing unit in Sri Sathya Sai factory in Andhra Pradesh, cops suspect insider involvement
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi
Andhra Pradesh: 900 engines of Kia stolen from factory, cops suspect insider involvement
Sri Satya Sai: About 900 Kia car engines were reportedly stolen at the Kia manufacturing company in the Sri Sathya Sai district. This whole theft drama came to light during the year-end audit carried out by the company in March 2025.
Kia runs a car manufacturing plant at Penukonda in the Sri Sathya Sai district, where police believe the theft of the engines began nearly five years ago.
Kia Motors India MD and CEO Gwanggu Lee lodged a complaint at the Penukonda Industrial Estate police station on March 19, based on which a case was registered.
Speaking to NewsMeter, Penukonda DSP Y Venkateswarulu said, āWe have formed four special teams to investigate the case. Our teams are travelling across to gather crucial records. We will reveal the details soon.ā
Inside job
A preliminary probe has confirmed the theft of 900 engines. The engines were stolen on the way to the manufacturing plant and from inside. The inquiry observed that the theft might have occurred during the transportation of the engines from Chennai to Penukonda.
However, Kia officials have not issued any statement on the incident so far.
