Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Hyundai's Czech plant leaps forward with high-performance cars
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech employees check an i30 N at the factory in Nosovice, Czech Republic, on Oct. 5. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor
By Nam Hyun-woo
By Nam Hyun-woo
NOSOVICE, Czech ― Hyundai Motor's Czech Republic manufacturing plant will mark its 10th anniversary of operation in November, as the plant seeks to transform itself from a forward base in Europe to the center of the brand's high-performance cars in the region.
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC) is located in Nosovice in Ostrava, Czech Republic, nearly four hours by train and bus from the capital, Prague. Occupying 2 million square meters of land, it started producing the i30 in November 2008 and currently manufactures 330,000 vehicles a year, sending them to 63 countries.
During a visit on Oct. 5, a group of employees were leaving the factory as their morning shift ended. The factory was built to produce 300,000 vehicles a year, but the number was raised after it started operating three shifts.
At its five production halls, 367 robots were pressing galvanized steel into body panels, welding and painting them into the ix20, the Tucson and variations of the i30. After the process, half of the working employees assembled parts into the bodies along the moving conveyer belts. By the numbers, the plant pushes out a new vehicle in less than a minute, a Hyundai official said.
As of August this year, HMMC has produced 2.75 million vehicles since 2008, with the plant expecting the number to surpass 3 million in April or May next year. Along with the volume, its share of Hyundai's sales in Europe also increased from 3.4 percent in 2008 to 42.5 percent in August.
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech President Yang Dong-hwan
“Hyundai has established HMMC as a necessity for synergy with Kia Motors' plant in Slovakia as well as recognition of the Czech Republic's geographical advantage and the industrial capabilities of its people,” HMMC President Yang Dong-hwan said. “HMMC is currently paying attention to manufacturing the i30 N, as the model has hit its stride in Europe. Depending on the future market, we can consider building eco-friendly cars at HMMC.”
HMMC began producing the i30 N in September last year. The high-performance hatchback quickly became a hit in Europe, following car critics' favorable appraisals as well as European consumers' affection for manual transmissions and fun driving.
From January to August this year, Hyundai sold 3,771 of the i30 N in Europe, surpassing its yearly target of 2,800. HMMC is exporting the i30 N to 31 countries, but customers have to wait an average of three months and sometimes up to six months to get their cars after they place their orders.
The majority of cars manufactured at the factory were the i30 N. They were then sent to a track near the factory to test their speed, steering and other additional requirements for high-performance driving.
“Due to the i30 N's popularity in Europe and Australia, and the launch of the new i30 Fastback N and the i30 N Line of cars, HMMC may have to increase its capacity,” a Hyundai official said.
Hyundai Motor unveiled the i30 Fastback N at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. HMMC will begin producing the i30 Fastback N in November.