ST. PETERSBURG, August 15 (Itar-Tass) — Batch production of the new Kia Rio sedan began at the Hyundai plant in St. Petersburg on Monday, sources from the press service of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Rus told Tass.
The plant intends to produce 20,000 vehicles of that model. Also on Monday, the plant has begun working in three shifts. According to a plant official, round-the-clock operation of the plant in Petersburg will make it possible to produce yearly up to 200,000 vehicles.
It is expected that starting from September, monthly production at the plant will make up 13,000 cars. According to Kia Motor plans, about 100,000 vehicles will be produced next year. Company officials are confident that owing to unequalled design solutions, excellent technical characteristics and an attractive price, the new Kia Rio will become bestseller on the market.
Hyundai launched the construction of its plant outside St. Petersburg in 2008. The amount of planned investments is 500 million euros. This year the plant has launched mass production of Hyundai Solaris sedan, designed specially for the Russian market. In May, it began production of hatchback modification of this model.