Hyundai plant in Canada?

After Hyundai announced it plans to build a manufacturing plant in China (already its third) rumors about the company considering to build one also in Canada surfaced to the web.

Chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor Canada said that Hyundai may soon need to take a hard look at building an assembly plant in Canada if it continues to increase sales in the following years.

Hyundai's Canadian sales are up 24 percent this year and are on pace to reach 90.000 vehicles.By 2012, Hyundai plans to sell 150.000 cars in Canada and that is a figure, according to Steve Kelleher, Hyundai Motor's Canadian chief executive officer that should prompt consideration about a plant in the country.

Hyundai operated an assembly plant in Canada in mid-1980s, but the company closed it only four years after openning as its sales collapsed in North America. Hyundai's assembly plant was located in Bromont, Quebec and produced second generation Sonata sedans. It had a capacity of 100.000 vehicles per year.

If Hyundai decides to build a plant in Canada, then this would be the company's third North American plant. Hyundai already operates a manufacturing plant in Alabama, while Hyundai's affiliate, Kia Motors, has a $1-billion plant currently under construction in Georgia.