Hyundai H100 South Africa 2015
Local production of the Hyundai H100 has begun at the assembly plant in Benoni, South Africa. We attended the plant’s opening in September 2014 where production of the HD truck range was already underway.
The establishment of the Hyundai H100 production line forms part of a capital investment of about R110 million in the Commercial Vehicles Division of Hyundai in South Africa. There are financial rewards for us, but one of the important benefits of this extension of our SKD production is job creation and the testimony that it bears of Hyundai’s commitment to the local automotive market,” says Wade Griffin, director for commercial vehicles at Hyundai Automotive SA.
The 1.3 ton Hyundai H100 is one of the company’s most successful products and has established a worldwide footprint. Since Hyundai SA began operating in 2000 close to 60 000 units have been sold – galvanising its position as an all-round small business asset.
There are far-reaching benefits from the plant. “This second phase of SKD assembly at the Apex plant has increased the number of employees on the site to a total of 51, with further potential growth of the factory’s workforce. If one considers the indirect effect at an average ratio of 7 to 1 that the employment of a single worker has on those that he or she supports, then the establishment of the assembly has already touched the lives of about 370 people,” says Griffin.
The assembly plant in Benoni plans to build 360 units a month (from imported components) when full production is reached in September 2015. The Hyundai H100 uses a robust 100 x 50mm steel ladder frame with a double wishbone and torsion bar front suspension, and leaf springs for extra load bearing at the rear. The engine is a 4-cylinder, 2.6-litre diesel with 58kW and 167Nm. Gearbox is a five-speed manual. Locally-fitted tow bars and canopies can be added.
