Hyundai Motor Company is going to release its small SUV called ‘KONA’ next month globally.
Vice-Chairman Chung Eui-sun of Hyundai Motor Company has directly directed marketing and launching of KONA. Industries are interested on whether or not KONA will act as a major weapon that will save Hyundai Motor Company that is facing crisis such as recent retaliation from China due to THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense).
According to automotive industries on the 16th, Hyundai Motor Company is going to introduce ‘KONA’ in global markets on the 12th of June. Hyundai Motor Company is going to hold a launching show by inviting foreign reporters and it is likely that it will take place at ‘Hyundai Motor Studio in Goyang’.
Vice-Chairman Chung has deeply participated in launching of KONA. He has been taking very active approach by expecting that KONA will help Hyundai Motor Company to take a rebound from its current crisis such as slumping global performance and recent large recalls. Vice-Chairman Chung had participated in planning of advertisement and marketing with executives and employees who are responsible for launching of KONA and had carried out many meetings to mediate ideas and opinions from executives and employees.
“Although we are finalizing on mediation internally, it is likely that we will start mass-producing KONAs at the end of June or early July.
Hyundai Motor Company invested about $179 million (200 billion KRW) in order to improve facilities at its number 1 plant in Ulsan. This plant has facilities that can produce different types of cars from single production line and it is also applied with conveyer system that automatically controls height of a car body so that it is at an appropriate height for work. Hyundai Motor Company has set a goal to produce about 45,000 KONAs per year.
It is heard that KONA uses same platform as new ‘i20’ and ‘Accent’ and that Hyundai Motor Company will release 1.4-liter gasoline turbo model along with KONA with 1.6-liter gasoline and 1.6-liter diesel.
KONA has the longest length of 4,300mm out of all South Korean small SUVs and will be equipped with best safety and convenience specifications such as HUD (Head UP Display) and ACC (Advanced Cruise Control) compared to other small SUVs.
Staff Reporter Park, Taejoon | gaius@etnews.com