Hyundai announced plans on Thursday to double its annual production capacity at its Hyundai Assan Otomotiv Sanayi (HAOS) facility in Turkey from 100,000 units today to 200,000 by the end of next year.
The South Korean automaker said it took the decision because of the growing demand from Europe and Turkey for its A- and B-segment models. In addition to the B-segment i20 supermini that has been built in Turkey since 2010, the HAOS plant will produce the next generation of the A-segment i10 city car, starting from the end of 2013.
“The year 2012 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Turkey factory and we have produced more than 700,000 vehicles since 1997, contributing to Turkey’s economy,” said Won-Shin Chang, President & CEO of HAOS, during a ceremony for the launch of production of the facelifted i20.
“With the new investment to raise our production capacity to 200,000 units, we will be able to better meet the rising demand from our customers in Europe and Turkey,” he added.
To raise capacity in the Turkish facility, Hyundai and its suppliers will invest US$607 million (€476 million) over the next 18 months. Hyundai said the expansion is expected to create 750 new jobs at the plant and about 2,400 when adding suppliers.
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