Hyundai will produce its upcoming Ioniq 3 electric vehicle in Türkiye, marking the first time the automaker manufactures an EV in Europe, a senior executive told Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the IAA Mobility show in Munich.
“We will start production of our Ioniq 3 model next year. This will be the first electric vehicle that Hyundai produces in Europe for the first time in Turkey,” said Murat Berkel, General Manager of Hyundai Türkiye. “This will also be the first electric vehicle exported from Türkiye to Europe after Togg.”
See also: Hyundai Unveils Concept Three Compact EV At IAA, Previews Ioniq 3 For Europe
Hyundai plans to assemble the compact Ioniq 3 at its İzmit plant, where it currently produces small combustion models for the European market, including the i10, i20 and the Bayon SUV. Production capacity of up to 245,000 vehicles annually will be temporarily reduced to 190,000 during the plant’s conversion for EV manufacturing.
The Ioniq 3 will be based on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). Berkel said: “Thanks to E-GMP, many electric models from A segment to E segment can be produced on the same infrastructure. Hyundai will be the first foreign manufacturer to bring this technology to Türkiye.”
See also: Hyundai Commits $5 Billion to Expand U.S. Production, Robotics Facility
At the IAA, Hyundai showcased the Concept Three design study as a preview of the Ioniq 3. The model, measuring 4.29 metres long and 1.94 metres wide, features pixel lighting and a sporty design, but no technical specifications were disclosed. The production model is expected to use a 400-volt system, similar to Kia’s EV3, EV4 and EV5, offering batteries of 60.3 kWh and 81.4 kWh and up to 160 kW front-wheel drive.
Hyundai named the UK, Germany and France as key export markets for the Ioniq 3. The company already produces the Kona Electric in the Czech Republic but continues to import other Ioniq models from South Korea.
Source: turkiyetoday.com