Hyundai Motor to mass produce 3G Tucson model next year

Hyundai Motor will release a 3G model of its small-sized sports utility vehicle Tucson ix in March next year. It is the first full change model in five years since the 2G model was launched in August 2009.

A source at Hyundai Motor said Monday, "Mass production of Tucsan full change model will start at Ulsan factory in mid-March next year. Given that Korean final car makers release a new model to the public about a month before mass production, the release of the new model is high likely to be in February next year. Some car industry sources forecast Hyundai Motor could reveal the 3G Tucson at the U.S. Detroit show in January next year to kick off the advertisement for its new model.

Hyundai Motor plans to expand sales of the 3G Tucson in the U.S and Europe after the release is made in the domestic market early next year.

Design is yet to be released, but the automobile industry expects the full change model design to be similar to that of "Intrado," Hyundai’s new concept car released at the 2014 Busan International Motor Show.

In preparing the new model, Hyundai Motor introduced a system by which researchers and production line workers cooperate from the initial design phase. This system was adopted in the development of new Genesis model. Production line workers were sent to the Namyang Research Center to communicate with researchers there, thus solving various issues that arise in design and assembly.

"Car safety and perfectionism have been enhanced thanks to this process," a Hyundai Motor source says. "We plan to introduce this gradually on our future models.”