Hyundai Motor Turkey begins mass production of IONIQ 3 in İzmit

Hyundai Motor Turkey has begun mass production of the fully electric IONIQ 3 model at its production facility in İzmit. According to the company's announcement, this step makes Hyundai the second automotive manufacturer to produce electric vehicles in Turkey.

The production launch ceremony held at the İzmit plant was attended by Minister of Industry and Technology Fatih Kacır, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Turkey Sukjong Boo, Hyundai Motor Europe CEO Xavier Martinet, Hyundai Motor Turkey CEO Alex Kim, and Kibar Holding CEO Ali Kibar, as well as representatives from the public and business sectors.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Minister Kacır provided information regarding the first phase of the investment. Kacır stated, "With an investment of 250 million Euros, Hyundai Motor Turkey will produce 30 thousand IONIQ 3s annually in our country in the first phase. Hyundai Motor Turkey's IONIQ 3 investment is proof that our new-generation mobility vision has found resonance among global automotive manufacturers and that our country is positioned as a reliable and scalable production hub."

TRANSFORMATION PROCESS AT THE FACTORY

The company reported that a comprehensive transformation has been carried out at the İzmit facility over the last two years for IONIQ 3 production. It was announced that while the necessary infrastructure for new-generation electric vehicle production was established during this process, approximately 50 percent of the factory was modernized.

Hyundai Motor Turkey CEO Alex Kim stated, "We are proud to produce the IONIQ 3 in Turkey. As part of our transformation process, approximately 50 percent of our factory has been modernized, and more than a thousand employees have taken on different roles throughout this transformation."

Hyundai Motor Europe CEO Xavier Martinet drew attention to Turkey's automotive tradition, qualified workforce, supplier base, and strategic location. Martinet said, "Our decision to produce the IONIQ 3 here reflects Hyundai's confidence in Turkey and the potential this country holds as part of Europe's mobility transformation. And our confidence extends beyond the IONIQ 3."

Operating since 1997, the İzmit plant is Hyundai's longest-running overseas facility outside of South Korea. While the factory's annual production capacity is stated as 200 thousand vehicles, it was reported that total production to date has exceeded 3.4 million units.

According to the statement, 80 percent of the vehicles produced in İzmit are exported. To date, the facility has exported more than 2.6 million vehicles, primarily to Europe. While Hyundai's total investment in Turkey since 1997 is stated as 1.47 billion Euros, it was noted that the investment planned for the IONIQ 3, the renewed i20, and Bayon models is 715 million Euros.

News Source: 12punto