Hyundai to Build US$600 Million Plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Seoul, Korea - Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea´s largest automaker, has chosen Sao Paulo, Brazil, as the site for its seventh overseas production base, completing the company´s expansion in all of the world´s major fast–growing markets and further diversifying its operations to seek stable growth.

James Choi, President of Hyundai Motor Co.´s International Sales Division, and Jose Serra, Governor of Sao Paulo State, signed a Memorandum of Understanding today (Thursday, local time) at the Governor´s palace in Sao Paulo City. According to the initial agreement, Hyundai Motor will invest about US$600 million into the wholly–owned subsidiary in the first phase, to build a 100,000 units–a–year plant in Piracicaba City in Sao Paulo State. The groundbreaking ceremony for the plant is scheduled to take place as soon as November of this year. Piracicaba City is about 157 kilometers North–West of Sao Paulo City.

Securing sales in emerging markets such as Brazil, as demand in traditional markets such as the U.S. and Western Europe stabilize, is key to Hyundai Motor´s sustainable growth and success. The company´s new plant in Central & Latin America´s largest market will also enable it to respond quickly to competition from Toyota and Honda, which are also seeking to build production facilities in Brazil.

Hyundai Motor, which began searching for an appropriate site in Brazil since 2006, had shortlisted three states in Brazil, including Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. The selection process was long and difficult as all three states made extremely favorable offers. However, Hyundai Motor finally decided on the state of Sao Paulo for its outstanding environment for automobile manufacturing.

"The city of Piracicaba was the best choice for us because of the city´s skilled workforce, good distribution network, convenient access to a broad supplier base and the incentives offered by the state government,"Mr. Choi said after the signing ceremony. "Hyundai Motor will do its best to contribute to the local economy and community by operating an efficient and successful plant."