How 900 Kia Engines Vanished from an Indian Plant: A 5-Year Theft Operation Under the Radar
By Team Dailyrevs April 15, 2025
900 Kia engines were stolen over five years from Kia’s Penukonda factory in Andhra Pradesh, India.
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Police suspect an inside job involving employees and falsified factory records.
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A formal investigation has been launched with multiple suspects already detained.
The Curious Case of Vanishing Engines: 900 Units, 5 Years, and No One Noticed?
In what may be one of the most audacious thefts in the history of India’s automotive industry, police have launched a full-scale investigation into the disappearance of nearly 900 Kia car engines from the automaker’s manufacturing facility in Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh. The engines didn’t vanish overnight. They were allegedly siphoned off quietly over a period of five years—right under the nose of plant management.
Kia’s Penukonda plant is a cornerstone of the brand’s rapid expansion in India, producing models like the Kia Seltos, Sonet, and Carens. And while Kia’s aggressive sales push has earned it a solid spot in India’s competitive car market, this engine theft scandal risks denting its otherwise smooth operational image.
Inside Job? Here’s What the Investigation Has Uncovered
The Andhra Pradesh police began their probe after Kia officials flagged a discrepancy in engine inventory earlier this year. A first information report (FIR) was filed, which quickly led authorities to suspect that this was not the work of a small-time gang, but rather a coordinated operation possibly involving current and former employees of the factory.
Police sources, quoted across multiple reports, indicate that the engines were transported out of the plant in containers, with factory records allegedly tampered to avoid detection. As many as ten people have already been taken into custody, with authorities focusing their investigation on a network involving logistics, records management, and possible external handlers.
Key Details on the Kia Engine Theft Case
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Kia Motors Plant, Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh |
| Stolen Quantity | 900 Engines |
| Time Period | Over the last 5 years |
| Suspects | Former and current employees, logistics handlers |
| Current Status | FIR filed, investigation ongoing, arrests made |
| Estimated Value | Not officially disclosed, likely several crores INR |
A Systematic Heist, or Lapses in Oversight?
One of the more striking aspects of this story is how long the theft went undetected. For nearly five years, engines were reportedly disappearing without triggering alarms in inventory management systems. This has naturally raised concerns over the robustness of internal audits and security protocols at the plant.
A senior officer involved in the case told The Hindu, “The case appears to be the result of insider access and manipulation of logistics systems. We are examining digital records and CCTV footage to determine the full extent of the operation.”
Bigger Implications for the Indian Auto Industry?
Beyond the immediate blow to Kia’s operational reputation, this incident has sparked broader conversations in India’s auto manufacturing ecosystem about plant security, asset tracking, and third-party audits. As vehicle production scales in India—thanks to both domestic demand and export opportunities—security infrastructure and digital oversight systems must evolve.
It also highlights how global auto giants operating in India may need to re-evaluate their local vendor and staffing models, especially in remote or fast-growing hubs where regulatory oversight may not be as tight.
What’s Next?
Kia has not released an official valuation of the missing engines, but rough industry estimates suggest that each powertrain could cost anywhere between ₹3 to ₹6 lakh (approximately $3,600 to $7,200 USD) depending on the model and configuration. Multiply that by 900, and the figures run well into tens of crores (roughly $3.2 to $6.5 million USD).
The case is still unfolding, with police continuing to trace the path of the stolen engines, potentially even linking them to illicit second-hand car or parts markets, both domestically and abroad.
For now, the company is said to be cooperating fully with law enforcement, and further arrests are expected.
Final Thoughts
While it’s tempting to write this off as another “corporate lapse,” the truth is more complex. This incident reveals cracks in oversight, logistics, and digital accountability at one of the country's top auto plants. Kia’s swift response and police cooperation is commendable, but the scale of the theft suggests that India’s fast-growing manufacturing sector may need to mature faster than anticipated.
For detailed images of Kia vehicles such as the Seltos, Sonet, Syros and others produced at the Penukonda plant, click here to view the Kia image gallery on DailyRevs.