Hyundai İzmit reaches half a million vehicles
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolia News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 21, 2009 00:00
KOCAELİ - South Korea’s Hyundai has produced 500,000 vehicles in its İzmit factory since July 1997. Speaking at the ceremony for the half-millionth vehicle, Kwang Heum Um, chief executive of Hyundai Turkey, says the İzmit plant has become an export hub, while Turkish consumers have embraced Hyundai brands. He thanks Turkish workers for their success
Hyundai, a South Korean automotive giant, has produced half a million vehicles in Turkey, since it opened its İzmit factory in 1997. The half-a-millionth vehicle went down the product line with a ceremony yesterday.
The İzmit factory is Hyundai’s first overseas production plant. Yesterday’s half-a-millionth vehicle was a white Accent Era 1.4 Select, and it is to be exported to the Czech Republic.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kwang Heum Um, chief executive officer of Hyundai Turkey, thanked Turkish workers for the success the factory has attained.
"Turkish consumers met the Hyundai brand first in 1990," Kwang said. "In a short time, we became the best-selling import brand in Turkey. Evaluating the importance of Turkey, the eternal friend of Korea, and the high demand in the domestic market, we decided to set up our first overseas production center in Turkey. Today, we see that decision is one of the best we have ever made."
Reminding that Hyundai Turkey began production in July 1997, Kwang said the first models produced in Turkey were H100 Panel Van and Accent. "In 2002, we started producing the Starex series. That same year, we were exporting vehicles from Turkey to the entire region," he continued. "In 2007, we included the Matrix model to our production, thus increasing our annual capacity to 100,000 units."
Export hub
Hyundai’s Turkey plant is today exporting vehicles to all parts of the region, including Western Europe, Kwang noted. "In the past 11 years and nine months, 270,000 vehicles were sold in the domestic market, while 230,000 vehicles were exported to more than 60 countries," he said. "But as you see, Accent has been produced here for three generations, and it has been the model that meets all needs and expectations of the Turkish consumer."
Since the first day, the factory has produced 250,000 Accent cars, constituting half of all production. "Hyundai’s Turkey plant is the only production and export center for Accent Era," Kwang said. "But the real success of this model is in domestic sales."
Calling Accent as "the automobile of the Turkish people," Kwang said Hyundai is now being accepted as a Turkish brand. "Accent Era is today the most preferred vehicle in the Turkish market," he said. "Every one in 10 cars sold in Turkey is an Accent Era. The Turkish consumer prefers Accent Era due to its high quality, performance, savings and rich accessories."
As of the first quarter of the year, Hyundai has a 15 percent market share in Turkey.
Market share by models
"Accent Era has a share of 60 percent in all automobile sales," Kwang said. "Matrix, the other model produced here, is the leader of the multi-purpose vehicle segment. Our i10 model in the mini segment, sells more than all its rivals combined."
In June, Genesis, the luxury model of the company, will take its place at Turkish galleries, Kwang said. "Genesis was chosen as the 2009 Automobile of The Year in North America. It surpassed most assertive models of Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Toyota and Volkswagen. Genesis embodies the peak Hyundai has reached in technology and quality."
Kwang also reminded that Hyundai’s Turkey plant has certificates of ISO 9001 Quality Management and ISO 14001 Environment Management.
"As Hyundai, we have always believed in Turkey and will continue investing here," Kwang said. "We will do our best to contribute to the Turkish economy and work for the well-being of our employees and the Turkish people."
The İzmit factory is Hyundai’s first overseas production plant. Yesterday’s half-a-millionth vehicle was a white Accent Era 1.4 Select, and it is to be exported to the Czech Republic.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kwang Heum Um, chief executive officer of Hyundai Turkey, thanked Turkish workers for the success the factory has attained.
"Turkish consumers met the Hyundai brand first in 1990," Kwang said. "In a short time, we became the best-selling import brand in Turkey. Evaluating the importance of Turkey, the eternal friend of Korea, and the high demand in the domestic market, we decided to set up our first overseas production center in Turkey. Today, we see that decision is one of the best we have ever made."
Reminding that Hyundai Turkey began production in July 1997, Kwang said the first models produced in Turkey were H100 Panel Van and Accent. "In 2002, we started producing the Starex series. That same year, we were exporting vehicles from Turkey to the entire region," he continued. "In 2007, we included the Matrix model to our production, thus increasing our annual capacity to 100,000 units."
Export hub
Hyundai’s Turkey plant is today exporting vehicles to all parts of the region, including Western Europe, Kwang noted. "In the past 11 years and nine months, 270,000 vehicles were sold in the domestic market, while 230,000 vehicles were exported to more than 60 countries," he said. "But as you see, Accent has been produced here for three generations, and it has been the model that meets all needs and expectations of the Turkish consumer."
Since the first day, the factory has produced 250,000 Accent cars, constituting half of all production. "Hyundai’s Turkey plant is the only production and export center for Accent Era," Kwang said. "But the real success of this model is in domestic sales."
Calling Accent as "the automobile of the Turkish people," Kwang said Hyundai is now being accepted as a Turkish brand. "Accent Era is today the most preferred vehicle in the Turkish market," he said. "Every one in 10 cars sold in Turkey is an Accent Era. The Turkish consumer prefers Accent Era due to its high quality, performance, savings and rich accessories."
As of the first quarter of the year, Hyundai has a 15 percent market share in Turkey.
Market share by models
"Accent Era has a share of 60 percent in all automobile sales," Kwang said. "Matrix, the other model produced here, is the leader of the multi-purpose vehicle segment. Our i10 model in the mini segment, sells more than all its rivals combined."
In June, Genesis, the luxury model of the company, will take its place at Turkish galleries, Kwang said. "Genesis was chosen as the 2009 Automobile of The Year in North America. It surpassed most assertive models of Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Toyota and Volkswagen. Genesis embodies the peak Hyundai has reached in technology and quality."
Kwang also reminded that Hyundai’s Turkey plant has certificates of ISO 9001 Quality Management and ISO 14001 Environment Management.
"As Hyundai, we have always believed in Turkey and will continue investing here," Kwang said. "We will do our best to contribute to the Turkish economy and work for the well-being of our employees and the Turkish people."