Turkey Becomes New Base for Korean-Made Cars as Hyundai Starts Building IONIQ 3 There

Hyundai has started IONIQ 3 production at its Izmit plant in Turkey, targeting 30,000 units a year after a €250 million investment.

Author: Nikita Novikov

23:29 25-08-2026

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With annual capacity for 30,000 electric vehicles and a €250 million investment, Hyundai has launched IONIQ 3 production at its plant in Izmit. Assembly began on August 14, 2026, making the newcomer the first series-production electric vehicle built at the Turkish factory.

According to an official statement from Hyundai Motor Europe, the company has modernized more than half of the plant over the past two years. More than 1,000 employees were retrained for building electrified vehicles. Turkey's Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir, announced the initial target of 30,000 IONIQ 3 units a year.

In other words, the model moved from unveiling to deliveries in under four months: the production-spec IONIQ 3 was revealed ahead of its April premiere, with sales in some European markets set to begin in September.

The front-wheel-drive Aero Hatch comes with two setups. The version with a 42.2 kWh LFP battery makes 147 hp and is rated for 344 km WLTP. The longer-range variant gets a 61 kWh battery, a 135 hp motor, and a range of up to 497 km. Cargo space comes in at 441 liters.

The claimed 29-minute charge from 10 to 80 percent applies to a high-power station. According to the official Dutch price list, on a 100 kW charger the 42.2 kWh battery needs 31 minutes, while the 61 kWh battery takes about 42 minutes. Standard AC charging is rated at 11 kW, with 22 kW available as an option.

The base price in the Netherlands is €27,995. The longer-range IONIQ 3 Select is priced at €31,995. Through August 31, an introductory discount of €1,500 brings the entry price down to €26,495.

Local assembly shortens the distance to key sales markets and lets Hyundai respond faster to European demand. That matters for the IONIQ 3 in particular: the model enters a crowded segment alongside the Volkswagen ID.3, Renault Megane E-Tech, MG4, and BYD Dolphin, where price and real-world charging time may matter more than power.