Hyundai Motor Brazil reveals the name of the new compact that will be produced in Brazil starting in September: HB20. “HB” stands for “Hyundai Brazil” and “20” is the number used by Hyundai to identify, globally, models with this size of platform. The company released teaser pictures of HB20 that signal the continuation of Hyundai’s signature Fluidic Sculpture design language.
The South Korean automaker starts HB20’s mass production in September at the plant in Piracicaba, in the countryside of São Paulo State. The hatchback will start sales on Oct. 10, 2012, in 1.0 flex fuel and 1.6 flex fuel versions, with automatic transmission optional for the 1.6 version. The HB family will also include a sedan and an SUV-looking version, which will arrive in the market during 2013.
All models of the HB family were developed by a team of Brazilian and Korean engineers. The three models were exclusively developed for the Brazilian market and will be produced at Hyundai’s first plant in Brazil. The plant is 69,000 m
2 in size and sits on an area of 1.4 million m
2. Brazil is the seventh country to receive a Hyundai manufacturing plant outside of Korea. The investment was USD $600 million.
Hyundai Motor Brazil already has more than 1,000 Brazilian employees. By 2013, that number will increase to 2,000. Besides these jobs, the plant installation will provide more 3,000 opportunities for suppliers near the plant, and create another 20,000 indirect jobs.
About Hyundai Motor Company Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai Motor Group, with more than two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Hyundai Motor -- which has six manufacturing bases outside of South Korea including the U.S., China, India, Russia, Turkey and the Czech Republic -- sold 4.06 million vehicles globally in 2011. Hyundai Motor, which employs over 80,000 worldwide, offers a full line-up of products including small to large passenger vehicles, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Further information about Hyundai Motor and its products is available at
www.hyundai.com .
