Hyundai i30 N to be produced in Czech Republic, production capacity to grow 10 per cent
Hyundai's first N Performance model, the i30 N, will be produced at its Czech Republic plant, which will increase production capacity to cater for the extra demand.
Speaking exclusively with CarAdvice, Petr Vanek, public relations director for Hyundai motor manufacturing Czech, told CarAdvice that plant production will increase by 10 per cent in line with the new model coming online.
"Exactly, yes. We have now applied for a new environmental impact assessment that would allow us to increase production by 10 per cent to 385,000, that is the target," Vanek said.
The current production facility at Nosovice, just outside Ostrava in the Czech Republic, is one of the most advanced production facilities in Europe. According to Vanek, Hyundai won't need to expand upon the current 200ha site, which currently produces 350,000 cars per year.
"No, this can be achieved by slightly modifying the speed of production and increasing the amount of people we have on the lines and maybe some extra shifts for seven days."
"It's well paid, so the people do not protest strongly against the extra shifts because for them it's a good opportunity to earn some extra money," said Vanek.
Head of vehicle test and high performance development, Albert Biermann, confirmed with CarAdvice during an interview at the Paris motor show, that the i30N would exclusively be built in the Czech Republic plant alongside the regular i30, the Tucson and the ix20 (which we don't receive in Australia).
"Yes, the i30N will be manufactured in the Czech Republic. Later we will have production in Korea for a different model," Biermann said.
CarAdvice toured the Nosovice Hyundai plant last week prior to the Paris motor show.
The new plant is incredibly clean and runs six three shifts over six days to maintain a production rate of around one car per minute.
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