Hyundai to manufacture electric vehicles in Turkey

From August 2026, Hyundai wants to build electric cars at its Turkish plant in İzmit as well as combustion engines. The plans cast their shadows ahead: to make room for the new production line, Hyundai is apparently already reducing its combustion engine production from 245,000 to 190,000 units this year.

This was reported by several Turkish media, but there is still no clear information on which electric car model will be built in İzmit. However, Hyundai recently presented the Inster in Turkey, so it is reasonable to assume that it will be produced locally. Additionally, Hyundai wants to bring the Ioniq 9 to Turkey this year.

Hyundai first publicised its plans to produce electric cars in İzmit alongside combustion engines at the beginning of March. The South Korean company cites rising demand in Europe as the reason for this. However, Hyundai is still not saying how many units will be built in İzmit. However, there is one indication: the Hyundai Motor Group had already ordered electric motor cores from supplier Posco in January 2024, of which 550,000 units are to be delivered to the Hyundai plant in Turkey by 2034.

Until now, the plant in İzmit has been operated by Hyundai Assan Automotive, a joint venture between the Hyundai Motor Group and the Turkish Kibar Holding. However, the holding company decided to transfer its shares to Hyundai in 2020. To “better reflect its role in the global automotive landscape,” Hyundai recently renamed the plant Hyundai Motor Türkiye. According to Turkiye Today, 85 per cent of Turkish production is currently exported to Europe.

Hyundai already builds electric cars in Europe, namely in Nosovice in the Czech Republic. The Kona Electric is built there. However, the electric models in the Ioniq series are still imported from South Korea, as is the latest electric addition, the Inster compact car.

turkiyetoday.com, haberturk.com (in Turkish)