New vehicle begins production in Europe but no Australian timeline is released
Hyundai’s first multi-purpose light commercial vehicle (LCV), the left-hand drive H350, has begun production for the European market.
Designed and manufactured by Hyundai partner Karsan Automotive, the H350 will be available in van, bus and chassis-cab variants from May in Turkey, eight more countries in June and expand across the continent in 2016.
The H350 van will launch in 5.5m or 6.2m length options with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3.5 tonne and a capacity of 12.9m 3 or five Euro-standard pallets.
The bus offering has a GVW of 4-tonne, a choice of passenger access doors and two 13+1 seat layout options, while the chassis-cab variant can handle customised bodies up to 4m long and 2.32m wide.
The new H350 will play a “key role” in the European commercial vehicle segment, according to executive vice president of Hyundai Motor Company Byung Tae Yea.
“This portion of the market is forecast to grow significantly over the next few years, so now is the right time for Hyundai to enter Europe’s big van segment,” Byung Tae Yea says.
“Built in Europe, the H350 has been developed and tailored to meet the specific needs of most demanding customers across the region.”
News about an Australian launch are yet to be released, however Hyundai confirmed plans to review a right-hand drive option.