Hyundai building new vehicle test centre at Nürburgring
- €5,5m investment demonstrates Hyundai's commitment to Europe
- All new Hyundai vehicles to be tested at the world’s most famous race track
- New facility will further enhance product quality and performance
Offenbach, 15 January 2013
Following the recent announcement regarding Hyundai design direction, the company has revealed plans for a new vehicle test centre, situated at the famous Nürburgring track in Germany – with construction well underway. The new facility, which represents a 5,5 million euro investment, reaffirms the brand’s commitment to developing its credentials as a top European carmaker.
Tests carried out at the new facility will be used by engineers at the company’s existing R&D centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, to improve the quality and driving performance of Hyundai’s European-designed vehicles. In 2012, almost 95% of the 444.000 Hyundai cars sold in Europe were designed, engineered and tested in Rüsselsheim, including the best-sellers i30, ix35 and i40.
Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented, “The new Hyundai test centre at Nürburgring is an expression of our intention to focus on improving the customer experience of our vehicles, such as ride and handling – an important consideration for European drivers. The new centre represents a significant investment, and one we expect will significantly contribute to enhancing the perception of the Hyundai brand and our key competitive competence in Europe.”
The 3050 m² building’s location was chosen for its direct access to the famous race track, dubbed ‘The Green Hell’ due to its challenging nature. Just as with Hyundai’s re-entry into the WRC series, track-testing at Nürburgring will enable Hyundai to develop the driving dynamics, reliability and durability of its vehicles.
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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 seven manufacturing bases outside of South Korea including Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, India, Russia, Turkey and the U.S. -- sold 4.4 million vehicles globally in 2012. 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.
About Hyundai Motor Europe
In 2011, Hyundai achieved record sales in Europe of 398.129 units, taking a best-ever 2,9% market share. In May 2011, Hyundai achieved a landmark, passing 5.000.000 sales in Europe since imports began in 1977. The company designs, engineers and manufactures cars in Europe, specifically for European customers. This includes the i30, which performed as Hyundai’s top-selling model in 2011, with 96.000 units sold. Hyundai sells cars in 28 European countries across 2.500 outlets.
More information about Hyundai Motor Europe and its products is available at www.hyundai.com/eu.
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