The milestone vehicle, quite appropriately, was a Hyundai Ioniq 5. Picture: Supplied
Hyundai Motor reached significant global milestone at the end of September, with the South Korean carmaker surpassing the 100 millionth vehicle production mark.
Quite appropriately the vehicle in question, the one hundred million and first unit, was an example of the fully electric Hyundai Ioniq 5, which is seen as epitomising the company’s electric vehicle (EV) push.
The vehicle was built at the Ulsan Plant in South Korea, and it was handed directly to its customer at a final handover ceremony held at the final inspection conveyor belt.
The Ulsan Plant, which was first inaugurated in 1968, is seen by many as the “birthplace” of South Korea’s automotive industry, and it also was the home of the country’s first mass-produced “independent” model, the Hyundai Pony of 1975.
The Ulsan facility is currently serving as the carmaker’s central hub for its electrified line-up, which is underpinned by the E-GMP (Electric Global Modular) platform.
“Taking on bold challenges and being in constant pursuit of innovation has enabled us to achieve rapid growth and will empower us to take ‘one step further’ toward another 100 million units as a mobility game changer,” said Jaehoon Chang, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company.
The Ioniq 5 is currently not offered for sale in Mzansi, with the local importer Motus having previously cited pricing challenges as the main reason.
Nonetheless Hyundai has enjoyed considerable success on the South African market. Its Grand i10 is one of South Africa’s best-selling hatchback models and the importer ranked fifth in total sales during the third quarter of 2024, behind, Ford, Suzuki, Volkswagen and Toyota, with average monthly sales of 2,753.
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