Hyundai may cut China factory capacity, report says
Hyundai Motor Co., which is reeling from tumbling sales in China, is considering cutting capacity at its factories in its biggest market, CEO Lee Won-hee said, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Lee made the comments at a meeting with analysts and investors on Wednesday, the people who attended the event told Reuters.
He said the automaker is considering addressing overcapacity at its old factories in China, while slashing headcount in the country, according to a note from one of the people which was seen by Reuters.
A Hyundai Motor spokeswoman said that the automaker is "reviewing various optimization plans to enhance facility efficiency" and has begun voluntary retirement for employees in China.
China's auto market, the world's biggest, is slowing after strong recent growth, with consumer demand hit by a weakening economy and the fallout of trade frictions with the United States. China's light-vehicle sales fell 2.8 percent in 2018, marking the first contraction since the 1990s, according to industry association data.
Hyundai's China sales sank 23 percent in the fourth quarter amid a lack of attractive models and strong branding in the face of competition from both Chinese and global automakers.
Lee said Hyundai is also considering shipping vehicle kits from China to the Philippines, South America and other countries for local assembly, the note said.
He said that GM, Ford and Honda are also slashing excess capacity globally, the note added. Lee said automakers have the capacity to produce 135 million vehicles worldwide a year, 31 percent higher than the industry’s current demand of 95 million vehicles, according to the note.
He said the automaker is considering addressing overcapacity at its old factories in China, while slashing headcount in the country, according to a note from one of the people which was seen by Reuters.
A Hyundai Motor spokeswoman said that the automaker is "reviewing various optimization plans to enhance facility efficiency" and has begun voluntary retirement for employees in China.
China's auto market, the world's biggest, is slowing after strong recent growth, with consumer demand hit by a weakening economy and the fallout of trade frictions with the United States. China's light-vehicle sales fell 2.8 percent in 2018, marking the first contraction since the 1990s, according to industry association data.
Hyundai's China sales sank 23 percent in the fourth quarter amid a lack of attractive models and strong branding in the face of competition from both Chinese and global automakers.
Lee said Hyundai is also considering shipping vehicle kits from China to the Philippines, South America and other countries for local assembly, the note said.
He said that GM, Ford and Honda are also slashing excess capacity globally, the note added. Lee said automakers have the capacity to produce 135 million vehicles worldwide a year, 31 percent higher than the industry’s current demand of 95 million vehicles, according to the note.
