Having a good car has now become a necessity. A vehicle with the most upgraded features and comfort at pocket-friendly prices is everyone’s go-to option. My friend approached me a few days ago and inquired about Hyundai automobiles.
I did know that the brand makes quality vehicles. However, I did not know their origin or where are Hyundai Cars Made? After doing complete research, I found the answer, and if you are curious too, don’t worry; I’ve got the answer for you!
Where are Hyundai cars made?
Hyundai cars were once speculated to be made only in South Korea. But that isn’t the case anymore.
The Hyundai Cars are made in South Korea, the USA, China, India, Turkey, Russia, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, Brazil & Egypt.
Everyone would probably expect such a huge company to have manufacturing spots around the world, and so the company does the same.
Different models considering the needs of respective markets are made and supplied within those countries and nearby countries.
Let’s dive into how the company emerged as a global brand and where is Hyundai from. You can also skip below to the in-depth part of where are Hyundai Cars Made?
You’ll also love to read: Who Makes Infiniti Cars?
Where is Hyundai from?
Hyundai Motor Company is a South Korean multinational and multi-trillion-dollar company. It is also commonly called Hyundai Motors or Hyundai. The company’s headquarters are in Seoul, South Korea.
Hyundai automobile company was founded 54 years ago in 1967. In 1947, Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. was established. Later on, the company also started manufacturing vehicles.
Hyundai also owns the world’s largest integrated automobile manufacturing plant in Ulsan, a South Korean city. Hyundai’s first model was the Cortina, made in 1968 with the joint cooperation of Ford Motor Company.
The brand’s first-ever owned car was the Pony, introduced in 1975. The company has never looked back since then. Today, Hyundai sells its vehicles in more than 193 countries.
Hyundai also has several design and research centers in South Korea, Germany, India, Japan, and the United States (California). All designs, prototypes, and testing are done through these R&D centers.
In 2011 alone, the company sold more than 4 million cars which shocked the world. The firm reported a profit of more than US$1.6 billion in the first two months of 2021.
It currently employs more than 75,000 individuals worldwide. Hyundai sells its cars through 5000 dealerships and showrooms.
Does Hyundai own Kia?
Yes! Kia is owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai owns a significant 33.8% percentage of the stakes of Kia. It is their parent company; however, the brands do work independently.
Hyundai also owns and sells vehicles under two other brand names. These include Genesis Motors, a subsidiary luxury brand from the company under the Hyundai brand name.
Where is Hyundai Made? 10 Manufacturing Locations
As of 2023, there are 9 countries where Hyundai Cars are manufactured. Following is the in-depth analysis of Hyundai’s manufacturing plants worldwide:
1. South Korea:
South Korea holds an extraordinary place in Hyundai’s history. South Korea was the country where it all started for Hyundai. Today, Hyundai manufactures its cars in three factories located in South Korea.
- Ulsan Plant:
The Ulsan plant is the biggest plant in automobile history, and no other manufacturing station manufactures more cars than this plant. This plant is so gigantic that it could incorporate 700 football pitches easily.
It has an enormous area of more than 15 million square meters and operates five factories within the same Ulsan plant. More than 15 Hyundai models made here are exported worldwide.
These include SUVs, Crossovers, the Genesis Series, Hyundai Ioniq, Hyundai Nexo, Hyundai Paradise, Hyundai G70, G80, G90, and several others.
- Asan Factory:
Asan Factory turns out more than 300,000 cars annually. This factory turns out some notable Hyundai vehicles such as Sonata and Grandeur Sedans.
Asan plant started operations in 1996. The most impressive feature about this plant is that it is very eco-friendly
- Gwangju Plant:
Another plant is located in the city of Gwangju. This factory specializes in making buses, trucks, and vans.
Some of them are Aero city, Aero Town, Xcient Truck, Xcient FCV truck, Trago Truck, and Sonata van. This plant has a total workforce of more than 6000. The plant also houses an R&D center where all the research takes place.
Everything lies within the facility’s premises, from the engine plant to the dispatch center, making it a fully independent and functional plant.
2. Is Hyundai Made in America?
Hyundai as a manufacturer, has been in the United States since 2004. The brand has been selling cars in the country since 1986.
The company opened its first plant in the country in Alabama in 2005. It occupies 1,744 acres of land. The firm completed the Alabama plant with a total investment of US$1.6 billion.
Production rolled off in May 2005, and in a few years, the plant was running at its total capacity.
This plant has all the basic facilities, such as a test run track, assembly area, welding, and paint shops. The company supplies the Hyundai cars manufactured here throughout the USA.
For the company, Hyundai Elantra generated a lot of sales in the United States and was also declared the North American Car in 2012.
Hyundai Tucson, Santa Fe, Elantra HV, Elantra, and Sonata are some Hyundai cars made in the United States. The firm operates throughout the country and has established regional offices in central states.
3. China:
China is next in the order where the company has a manufacturing plant in Shunyi, northeast of the country’s capital Beijing.
Hyundai and Beijing Automotive Group established a joint venture to produce Hyundai cars in China.
This facility was completed in 2002 and started production in the same year for the Chinese market.
The plant houses three factories, two of which are used to manufacture vehicles, and the remaining one is used to manufacture engines.
The plant has the capacity to produce around 1.3 million vehicles annually. A plan is also underway to further expand its capacity to a total of 2 million vehicles a year.
Two new factories have helped the company achieve this feat. Three of the factories are located in Beijing, one in Hubei, and one in Chongqing.
These factories are currently operating and meeting the Chinese demand for Hyundai cars. Hyundai SUVs, Crossovers, Matrix, Sant Fe, and many others are made in these plants.
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4. India:
With numerous automobile companies in India, Hyundai also took the step to manufacture and assemble company cars in the country locally.
The company has been present in India since 1996, when it was formed as Hyundai Motor India Limited.
The first Hyundai car launched in the country was Hyundai Santro in 1998, which was a massive success for the company.
India houses two manufacturing plants of the Hyundai company. Both of them are located in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
These plants can produce many Hyundai models and have a combined capacity of more than 600,000 units annually.
Another feat was achieved by the company in 2007 when Hyundai opened its first R&D center in Hyderabad, incorporating the latest technology and state-of-the-art design center for Hyundai’s latest models.
Two test tracks are also part of Tamil Nadu facilities to ensure the proper functioning of new vehicles and pass them under different simulated environments.
Hyundai has become the second-largest automobile exporter from India and plans to expand its operations in the developing nation further.
5. Turkey:
Next on the list, we have Turkey. Hyundai’s first plant in Turkey was opened in 1997.
This plant is located in Izmit, Kocaeli Province. The company operates in Turkey under the name Hyundai Assan Otomotiv, a joint venture between Hyundai and Turkey’s Kibar Holding.
The plant had an annual production capacity of around 125,000 units which was later increased to 200,000 units per annum by an investment of 470 million euros.
Some of the notable vehicles manufactured in Izmit’s plant are the Starex, the Matrix, H100, i10, and the i20. More than 3000 employees are working in Hyundai’s Turkey factory.
6. Russia:
Since 2001, Hyundai has been locally producing some of the flagship cars for the Russian market.
The company opened its first plant in Russia in 2001, located in Tangrong. This plant is called TagAz and has been producing Hyundai cars for two decades.
Hyundai Porter, County, Aero Town, Sonata, Accent, Elantra, and Santa Fe are some Hyundai cars manufactured here.
Another plant was opened in St. Petersburg in June 2008, having a production capacity of more than 200,000 units annually.
Production rolled off in early 2011 with Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio. A car engine manufacturing plant was opened in St. Petersburg in 2021 to manufacture engines for Solaris, Creta, and Rio models.
This plant’s construction was initiated in 2019 and was completed by 2021. It is Hyundai’s 5th largest plant in the world.
Russia is quite a market for Hyundai, and the company foresees entirely capturing the Russian market in the coming years.
7. Czech Republic:
For the European market, Hyundai owns a plant in the Czech Republic located in Nosovice. The company invested 1 billion Euros in this plant, and it took 2 years to complete.
The plant has an annual production capacity of 300,000 units and was opened in 2008. The plant is in close proximity to Hyundai’s plant in Zilina, where Kia cars are made.
In 2019, the company celebrated the manufacture of the three-millionth vehicle at this plant. I30, Ix 35, and Ix20 are mainly produced here, ready to be shipped across European countries.
Tucson and Kona Electric are also manufactured here.
8. Indonesia:
In 2019, Hyundai’s management announced that they would construct the first car manufacturing plant in Southeast Asia in the Philippines.
The plant is situated in Cikarang, Bekasi, and is used as an export point for Hyundai to other countries. Half of Hyundai cars would be used up locally.
The company has forecasted to invest US$1.55 billion in this plant up until 2030. The plant has an annual capacity to produce more than 150,000 vehicles.
This plant will mainly focus on manufacturing compact MPVs and other Hyundai models.
9. Brazil:
Brazil houses a modern Hyundai factory in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo. This plant is the company’s first plant in Brazil, having an annual capacity to produce around 180,000 each year with room for additional power.
This plant was opened in 2012 by introducing Hyundai’s small bi-fuel car, the HB20, exclusively designed for the Brazilian market. More than US$1.2 billion were invested in this plant by the company.
Caoa Group, a local Brazilian partner based in Annapolis, has also produced several Hyundai cars since 2007, including the HD78 truck, Tucson, Ix35, and other models.
10. Egypt:
Last but not least, we have Egypt. Hyundai has been producing cars in Egypt in joint cooperation with the Ghabbour Group.
Most of the Hyundai made in Egypt are supplied within the country. Many Hyundai models are made in their Egypt factory, including some sportscars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hyundai a reliable car?
Hyundai is generally considered to be a reliable car brand. According to various studies and surveys, many of their vehicles have been rated highly in terms of reliability, with some models even being listed among the most dependable cars in their respective categories. However, as with any car brand, the reliability of a specific Hyundai vehicle can depend on various factors such as model, year, individual vehicle condition, and maintenance history.
Who owns Hyundai?
Hyundai is owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai Motor Group is a South Korean multinational and multi-trillion-dollar company.
Side Note:
Hyundai is one of the most remarkable automobile brands ever. In 2021, Hyundai’s best-selling car Tucson clocked sales of more than 475,000 globally, proving the demand for Hyundai’s vehicles.
Hyundai has been internationally acclaimed by critics and has won several international awards. The company also issues a corporate responsibility report to check on environmental issues and the company’s role in conserving the natural ecosystem.
Nonetheless, Hyundai is one of the best automobile brands in the world. I hope you enjoyed this article. Until Next time.