Hyundai Will Manufacture Ioniq 3 Vehicles in Turkey Starting from 2026
Hyundai has announced that it will start production of the Ioniq 3 electric vehicle in Turkey next year, marking a significant step in the company's expansion of electric vehicle production in Europe. The production of the Ioniq 3 will take place at the plant in the Turkish city of Izmit, which currently mainly produces internal combustion engine small cars.
The Ioniq 3 will be the first electric vehicle from Hyundai to be produced in Europe, not just assembled. It will also be the first electric vehicle to be exported to Europe from Turkey after Togg, the new Turkish electric car brand backed by the state.
The main markets for the production of the Hyundai Ioniq 3 in Turkey are the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, with the production taking place in the İzmit plant near Istanbul starting from 2026. The Ioniq 3 will be the first electric vehicle that Hyundai produces in Europe in Turkey.
The Ioniq 3 is a sportily styled compact model with dimensions: length 4.29 meters, width 1.94 meters, height 1.43 meters. The design of the Ioniq 3 features typical elements of the Ioniq electric car family, such as pixel headlights, as showcased in the Ioniq 3 design study named Concept Three, which was presented at the IAA show.
The Ioniq 3 will be developed on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), making it the first foreign manufacturer to bring E-GMP technology to Turkey. Hyundai plans to temporarily reduce the production capacity of the factory from 245,000 to 190,000 vehicles per year as part of the conversion for electric cars.
It is worth noting that the Ioniq series models, including the new small car Inster, are still imported from South Korea. Hyundai's electric car, the Kona Electric, is already being produced in the Czech Republic. With the production of the Ioniq 3 in Turkey, Hyundai is set to bring production of a model from the Ioniq family to Europe.
Murat Berkel, General Manager of Hyundai Türkiye, made this announcement at the IAA show in Munich. The move is part of Hyundai's broader strategy to expand its electric vehicle production in Europe and reduce its carbon footprint. The Ioniq 3 is expected to play a key role in this strategy, with its production set to begin next year.
