The brand presented two new versions of the SUV vehicle. The units are assembled at the Aymesa plant, south of Quito.

While General Motors GM OBB Ecuador is preparing to close its production plant on September 4, Hyundai confirms that it will continue to assemble its vehicles in the Andean country. The Korean brand aims to produce more than 2,000 of its Creta models per year at the Aymesa plant located in the south of Quito.

Hyundai's announcement was made during the presentation event of two new versions of its Creta SUV model: Bitono and Mate. The first is characterized by an exclusive design and the second by its height and performance . These new versions are part of the models produced in Ecuador.

Assembly of the Creta model began in November 2023 and 1,200 units have already been produced by August. The investment for this project amounts to approximately US$ 15 million, generating around 500 direct and indirect jobs, said Ramiro Cornejo, Executive Vice President of Hyundai.

Referring to GM's situation, Cornejo stressed that the space left behind could be filled by Hyundai, "generating jobs and investing, that is the commitment of companies that believe in the country," he emphasized. The brand sees Ecuador as "an important and strategic market."

Between January and June 2024, 8,451 units assembled in the country were sold, representing 14.9% of total vehicle sales, according to the Ecuadorian Chamber of the Automotive Industry (Cinae).

Within the local automotive industry, Hyundai brand assembled vehicles account for 8.8% of the market share as of June this year, according to figures from Cinae.

The Korean brand ranks fourth in cumulative sales in the first half of the year, with a total of 2,794 units.