New Delhi: Kia India has expanded its Green Workshop network to 151 facilities across the country, strengthening its efforts to incorporate renewable energy, water conservation and responsible waste management into its aftersales operations. The automaker announced on Thursday that the workshops now have a combined installed solar power capacity of 11,885 kW, or approximately 11.88 MW.
The milestone marks a significant expansion of Kia India’s sustainability programme, which began with just three Green Workshops in 2023. The company crossed the 100-workshop mark in 2025 and has since added another 45 facilities, taking its nationwide total to 151.
The initiative is designed to reduce the environmental impact of vehicle servicing by introducing energy-efficient infrastructure, alternative vehicle-washing methods and improved waste-handling practices across participating dealerships.
Solar Capacity Grows from 165 kW to Nearly 11.9 MW
Kia India’s Green Workshop programme has expanded considerably over the past four years, both in the number of participating facilities and their installed solar generation capacity.
In 2023, the network comprised three workshops with a combined solar capacity of 165 kW. By 2024, the programme had grown to 60 workshops, with installed capacity reaching 5,494 kW.
The expansion continued in 2025, when Kia crossed the 100-workshop milestone, reaching 106 facilities and 8,442 kW of solar capacity.
With 45 additional workshops brought into the programme in 2026, the network now comprises 151 facilities with a cumulative installed capacity of 11,885 kW.
The figures represent a substantial increase in the company’s renewable energy infrastructure, although Kia has not disclosed how much electricity the solar installations currently generate or what proportion of workshop energy requirements they meet.
Water Conservation Becomes a Key Priority
One of the more practical aspects of Kia’s Green Workshop initiative involves reducing water consumption during vehicle washing, a routine operation that can require considerable resources across a large service network.
Under the programme, participating facilities are prescribed steam-washing or dry-washing methods as alternatives to conventional washing.
According to Kia India, steam washing typically uses approximately 4–5 litres of water per vehicle, compared with an estimated 100–120 litres required for conventional washing. Dry washing, meanwhile, eliminates water use during the washing process.
The company notes that actual water consumption can vary depending on the washing method and operating conditions.
For customers, the difference may not always be immediately visible, but the cumulative potential for water conservation becomes more meaningful when multiplied across thousands of vehicle service visits.
Kia India Reports Handling 2,269 Barrels of Used Engine Oil in 2026
Responsible waste management forms another component of the Green Workshop framework, particularly the handling of used engine oil generated during routine vehicle servicing.
Kia India reported that approximately 2,269 barrels of used engine oil were handled during 2026 as part of its waste-management efforts.
The company has also incorporated colour-coded waste segregation bins at participating facilities to support the separation and management of different waste streams.
Additional infrastructure measures include effluent treatment plants, waterless urinals, motion-sensor-controlled lighting and doors, and greater use of natural lighting.
The programme also includes rapid wash facilities and the use of water-based paints in bodyshop repair operations, where applicable. Kia noted that the environmental performance of such paints depends on the specific products and their application.
Together, these measures aim to make routine service operations more resource-efficient without changing the fundamental purpose of a workshop: keeping vehicles properly maintained.
Kia India Says Sustainability Extends Beyond Vehicles
Commenting on the expansion, Mr. Atul Sood, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said:
“Sustainability at Kia India is an enterprise-wide commitment that extends across our products, operations and the complete customer ownership journey. From our first Green Workshop to crossing the 100-workshop milestone and now surpassing 150 facilities, each stage reflects the collective efforts of Kia India and our dealer partners to build a more responsible and future-ready mobility ecosystem. With 151 workshops supported by more than 11.8 MW of solar capacity, we are strengthening the environmental efficiency of our aftersales operations while continuing to deliver the quality, convenience and care our customers expect from Kia.”
The company said its approach is intended to integrate environmentally responsible practices into customer-facing operations while maintaining existing standards for service quality, convenience and transparency.
North India Leads Kia’s Green Workshop Network
Kia India’s 151 Green Workshops are distributed across four regions, reflecting the programme’s nationwide expansion.
North India accounts for the largest share, with 53 Green Workshops, followed by West India with 45 facilities and South India with 43. East India currently has 10 Green Workshops.
The regional distribution highlights both the progress made in expanding the programme and the differences in its geographical coverage.
Kia has not announced a new numerical target or timeline for the next phase of its Green Workshop expansion.
Sustainability Moves Into the Service Bay
As automakers increasingly focus on reducing their environmental footprint, attention is extending beyond vehicle manufacturing and tailpipe emissions to the infrastructure supporting vehicles throughout their ownership.
Service workshops are an important part of that equation. Their daily operations involve electricity consumption, water usage, lubricants, cleaning materials and waste disposal, making them a relevant area for operational improvements.
Kia India’s expansion to 151 Green Workshops demonstrates how sustainability measures can be incorporated into an established automotive service network. However, the programme’s long-term environmental impact will depend not only on the number of participating facilities but also on measurable reductions in resource consumption, waste and emissions.
For the automotive industry, the broader message is that environmental responsibility does not end when a vehicle leaves the factory. It also matters when that vehicle returns for its next service.
