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Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung inspected production preparations for the Ioniq 3 at the automaker's plant in Türkiye as the company prepares to launch the compact electric vehicle across Europe later this year, The Korea Herald reported Sunday.
Chung visited the manufacturing facility in Izmit, near Istanbul, on July 30 and reviewed the Ioniq 3 production process, according to the report. He also held talks with employees on the company's local manufacturing and sales strategy.
The Ioniq 3, an all-electric compact hatchback developed primarily for Europe, is scheduled to enter mass production at the Izmit plant in mid-August.
The model will then be introduced gradually in major European markets during the second half of the year.
During his visit, Chung inspected key stages of the production line, including body assembly and vehicle finishing, and called on employees to prioritize quality from the start of mass production.
"Quality must be the top priority from the initial stage of mass production, and we must also secure safety competitiveness at the highest level in Europe," Chung said, according to the report.
He also visited a nearby Hyundai Mobis battery system assembly facility to examine the production of battery systems that will be installed in the Ioniq 3.
The Ioniq 3 will be Hyundai's first electric vehicle in Europe's B-segment, a category that includes small cars commonly used in urban areas, The Korea Herald reported.
Hyundai aims to sell more than 40,000 units annually beginning next year as it seeks to strengthen its position in Europe's increasingly competitive compact electric vehicle market, according to the report.
The vehicle features what Hyundai calls an "Aero Hatch" design, intended to combine aerodynamic efficiency with a spacious interior.
It is built on Hyundai Motor Group's Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) and will be the first European Hyundai model equipped with the company's Pleos Connect infotainment system.
The vehicle will also feature Hyundai SmartSense driver-assistance technology.
Hyundai's Türkiye plant, which began operations in 1997, has primarily manufactured compact models for European markets, including the i10, i20 and Bayon.
The facility has an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles and has produced about 3.4 million vehicles since it opened.
The start of Ioniq 3 production will mark the plant's expansion into electric vehicle manufacturing and reinforce its role as a production base for Hyundai's European operations, the report said.
Hyundai sold about 67,000 vehicles in Türkiye last year, an increase of 6.7% from the previous year. It sold a further 31,000 vehicles in the country during the first half of this year, according to the report.
The company plans to use the Ioniq 3 to compete with European automakers in the growing small electric vehicle market and expand production depending on demand.
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