On his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. The group’s local growth strategy and future business opportunities were reviewed during the meeting.
Chung’s discussions with the crown prince covered a wide range of topics including the automotive industry and smart cities. This marked the first one-on-one meeting between the two leaders, though they had previously met twice, including during the crown prince’s 2022 visit to Korea.
“Hyundai Motor Group deeply understands the meaning and importance of Saudi Vision 2030,” said Chung. “Based on our competitive business capabilities, we are participating in Saudi Arabia’s giga-projects and look forward to expanding collaboration in future energy sectors including renewable energy, hydrogen, small modular reactor, and nuclear energy.”
Strategic partnership for Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia is pursuing Vision 2030, a national development project aimed at diversifying its economy from energy-focused industries toward manufacturing and hydrogen energy. The Kingdom is hosting international events including the World Expo and FIFA World Cup, positioning itself as one of the world’s most prominent emerging economies.
As the Middle East’s largest automotive market, Saudi Arabia is actively attracting global automakers, including Hyundai Motor, with the long-term goal of becoming an automotive hub serving not only the Middle East but also North Africa.
Executive Chair Chung expressed gratitude for the Saudi government’s continued interest and support, outlining Hyundai’s ongoing collaborative projects and future plans as a partner in realizing Saudi Arabia’s vision for mobility and other sectors.
Regarding the new manufacturing facility in the Kingdom, Chung said: “Hyundai Motor is building a locally tailored factory with specialized equipment to meet Saudi Arabia’s industrial demands and customer needs. We will also consider expanding production capacity based on future market conditions.”
New production hub
Prior to meeting the crown prince, Chung visited Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Middle East on Oct. 26 at the King Salman Automotive Cluster to review construction progress. Together with José Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, Chung engaged in a business update session with Hyundai Motor and Kia local leaders and held in-depth discussions with employees about growth strategies.
“Establishing a production base in Saudi Arabia represents Hyundai Motor’s new opportunity in the Middle East,” Chung told employees working in extreme heat. “We must thoroughly prepare in every aspect to deliver mobility that exceeds customer expectations on time, in an environment different from our previous bases — characterized by high temperatures and desert conditions.”
Muñoz said: “Our new Saudi Arabia production facility demonstrates Hyundai’s long-term commitment to the Middle East’s largest automotive market. This plant plays a strategic role in our global mid-term plan while supporting Vision 2030. We’re combining Hyundai’s manufacturing excellence with Saudi Arabia’s talented workforce to deliver mobility solutions across automotive, smart cities, hydrogen energy, and future mobility.”
HMMME, the first Hyundai Motor production facility in the Middle East, is a cornerstone for establishing Hyundai as a leading brand in Saudi Arabia. The joint venture is 30 percent owned by Hyundai Motor and 70 percent by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Construction began in May 2025, with operations targeted to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 50,000 units, manufacturing both electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles.
The plant combines Hyundai Motor’s innovative manufacturing technology with Saudi Arabia’s talented workforce and infrastructure, positioning it to play a crucial role in the growth and development of the Kingdom’s mobility ecosystem.
Hyundai Motor plans to operate HMMME as a high-quality vehicle production hub by implementing multi-model production facilities to address diverse customer needs, applying simple and robust design structures for easy maintenance, and incorporating cooling and dust-proof measures to handle high temperatures and sand.
Market growth and expansion
Hyundai Motor and Kia continue to grow in Saudi Arabia, selling 149,604 units through September this year, an 8.5 percent increase year over year, with plans to reach approximately 210,000 units by year-end, up 5.9 percent from 2024.
Leveraging enhanced brand appeal and stable supply through the Saudi production base, Hyundai Motor aims to become the leading automotive company in Saudi Arabia through strategies including Saudi-exclusive special editions, an expanded SUV lineup based on customer preferences, and the launch of diverse eco-friendly vehicles including EVs, extended-range electric vehicles, and HEVs.
Kia plans to develop the recently launched Tasman pick-up truck as its flagship model while expanding EV and HEV supply. The brand is also focusing on capturing the PBV market in connection with Saudi Arabia’s smart city projects.
Expanding collaboration
Hyundai Motor is expanding partnerships with key Saudi institutions and companies across mobility, smart cities, and other sectors.
In September 2024, Hyundai Motor signed an agreement with NEOM for “introducing eco-friendly future mobility,” successfully demonstrating the Universe FCEV bus last May on routes connecting NEOM’s central business district with the high-altitude Trojena region at 2,080 meters above sea level. The group plans to continue collaboration as NEOM’s key partner in future mobility.
Last month, Kia launched a PV5 pilot project with Red Sea Global, one of Saudi Arabia’s giga-project developers, following up on Hyundai Motor’s March 2024 MoU with RSG. Kia will provide PV5 passenger models and technical training support, contributing to eco-friendly mobility adoption and ecosystem development while delivering customized mobility solutions optimized for RSG’s tourism industry.
Hyundai is also partnering with the MISK Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by the crown prince in 2011, to foster local youth talent and explore smart city collaboration opportunities.
