Hyundai Eyes CBU Car Plant for Brazil

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo says in a recent presentation to government officials in Sao Paulo, Brazil, that he is considering construction of a fully integrated vehicle-assembly plant in the region.

“Hyundai hopes to increase our market presence in Latin America with continuous expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries, including a plan we are considering for building a car factory with capacity of 100,000 units (annually),” Chung says in a statement.

“The chairman did not give out any other specific information about the new plant or what vehicles it would produce,” a Hyundai spokesman tells Ward's, noting the plant would not be a kit operation.

“It will not be a complete-knocked-down plant like the Hyundai CAOA do Brasil Ltda. plant that has just gone into production in Anapolis, near Brazilia,” he says.

The Anapolis plant began producing the Hyundai HR small pickup truck on April 20.

“Hyundai CAOA is targeting sales of 10,000 vehicles this year and will ramp this up to 50,000 vehicles annually by 2009,” the spokesman says. “We are considering adding a small SUV later, but the model has not been confirmed.”

However, Ward's has learned the Hyundai Tucson compact cross/utility vehicle will be added to the production mix at the Anapolis CKD plant next year.