Hyundai Motor Türkiye Begins Series Production of Its First Electric Model, the IONIQ 3

Hyundai Motor Türkiye (HMTR), which has operated in the country for nearly 30 years, has begun series production of the fully electric IONIQ 3 at its manufacturing plant in İzmit. With this move, Hyundai has become the second automotive manufacturer to produce electric cars in Türkiye, while the İzmit plant has gained a more prominent role in the company’s European electrification strategy.

The plant underwent an extensive transformation over the past two years to prepare for IONIQ 3 production. Approximately 50 percent of the facility was modernised to establish the infrastructure required for manufacturing next-generation electric vehicles. More than 1,000 employees took on different roles throughout the transformation process.

Around 80 percent of the vehicles produced at the İzmit plant are exported, underlining the facility’s importance to both the Turkish economy and Hyundai’s regional manufacturing and supply strategy.

Annual production of 30,000 IONIQ 3 vehicles planned

The IONIQ 3 Series Production Launch Ceremony at Hyundai Motor Türkiye’s İzmit plant was attended by Türkiye’s Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Türkiye Sukjong Boo, Hyundai Motor Europe CEO Xavier Martinet, Hyundai Motor Türkiye CEO Alex Kim and Kibar Holding CEO Ali Kibar. Representatives from central and local government, the automotive industry and the wider business community also attended the event.

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced that Hyundai Motor Türkiye would initially produce 30,000 IONIQ 3 vehicles annually as part of a €250 million investment.

“Hyundai Motor Türkiye’s IONIQ 3 investment demonstrates that our next-generation mobility vision is gaining recognition among global automotive manufacturers and that our country is positioned as a reliable and scalable production centre,” Kacır said.

“As Türkiye, we stand by all investors that invest, manufacture, develop technology, create skilled employment and help move our country further up global value chains,” he added.

Ambassador Sukjong Boo said the start of IONIQ 3 production reflected Hyundai Motor Türkiye’s forward-looking vision and technological capabilities. He added that the investment demonstrated the company’s unwavering commitment to growing alongside Türkiye’s automotive industry through advanced innovation.

İzmit is one of Hyundai’s key manufacturing centres

Operating since 1997, Hyundai’s İzmit plant is the company’s longest-running overseas production facility outside South Korea. The plant has an annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles and has manufactured more than 3.4 million units to date. Over 2.6 million of these vehicles have been exported, primarily to European markets.

A total of €1.47 billion has been invested in Hyundai Motor Türkiye since 1997. Investments planned for the new production period, covering the IONIQ 3 and the renewed i20 and BAYON models, are expected to reach €715 million. The programme encompasses the production of electric, hybrid and internal-combustion-engine vehicles.

The production of the new Hyundai IONIQ 3, featuring an “Aero Hatch” design, marks the beginning of a new era for the İzmit plant. Preparations are also underway for the production of next-generation Hyundai BAYON and Hyundai i20 models. Through these investments, the company also aims to support Türkiye’s domestic automotive supply industry.

“We trust Türkiye’s potential in the mobility transition”

Highlighting Türkiye’s strategic importance to Hyundai Motor Europe, CEO Xavier Martinet pointed to the country’s strong automotive heritage, skilled workforce and competitive supplier base.

“Türkiye has a strong automotive tradition, a talented workforce, a competitive supplier base and a strategic location between Europe and Asia,” Martinet said.

“Our decision to manufacture the IONIQ 3 here reflects Hyundai’s confidence in Türkiye and in the country’s potential to be part of Europe’s mobility transition. That confidence extends beyond the IONIQ 3,” he added.

Hyundai Motor Türkiye CEO Alex Kim said the company was proud to manufacture the IONIQ 3 in Türkiye:

“As part of our transformation process, approximately 50 percent of our plant was modernised, and more than 1,000 employees took on different roles throughout this transition. The IONIQ 3 represents a long-term commitment by Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Europe and Hyundai Motor Türkiye. We aim to continue investing in various areas to further increase our production capacity in the years ahead.”