SEOUL, Feb. 10 ( Yonhap) - The foreign production of major South Korean automakers , Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp., reached a new monthly high in January, data showed Monday industry automobiles.
Last month, Hyundai and Kia produced a total of 378,867 units abroad, an increase of 4.3 percent exceeding the previous record of 362,627 units set in April last year.
The increase was attributed to strategic models developed to satisfy local consumers and efforts to increase operational capabilities in overseas plants.
In Brazil , Hyundai sells several models of HB20 series, which are strategic vehicles to conquer the Brazilian market and flexible fuel , ie , which can be powered by oil or bioethanol .
The Hyundai plant in Turkey started to operate at full capacity a rotation of three shifts to produce the new model i20, for the European market.
Tremendous growth in production outside the two manufacturers is forecast, as they decided to increase production to meet growing demand in China and Europe.
Hyundai plans to increase this year, the annual capacity of its third plant in China to 450,000 units, compared with the current capacity of 300,000 units. Kia will finish building its third plant in China in the first half of 2014.
