Sri Lanka’s first locally assembled Hyundai Grand i10 1.2l Auto was unveiled by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, at the Hyundai Showroom, Colombo City Centre on the 10th of February. The launch was graced by Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka, Santhush Woonjin Jeong and Minister of Industries, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and gave the invitees a first-hand experience of the all-new Hyundai Grand i10’s sleek design, innovative technology, advanced features and the capabilities of Sri Lanka youth.
This venture, a Technology partnership between Abans Auto and Hyundai Motor Company of Korea, has paved the way for the devolution of the latest engineering processes, world-class component manufacturing technologies and further technology partnerships with internationally acclaimed OEM vendors, signifying a revolution in Sri Lankan automotive engineering. Similarly, upon utilizing the wealth of experience in setting up world-leading assembly and manufacturing facilities across the globe, Hyundai was comprehensively involved in setting up the state-of-the-art vehicle assembly line (presently at its final stages of completion) in Seeduwa, where the Grand i10 was assembled. The massive enterprise is expected to further uplift the national automobile assembly and automotive components manufacturing industry to greater heights, giving Sri Lankan industry much-deserved recognition on the international stage.
The unveiling marks the fruition of a partnership entered into in late 2020, when the Hyundai Motor Company of Korea, reached an agreement with Abans Auto, authorizing the reputed local automotive retailer to assemble Hyundai automobiles and manufacture components under license in Sri Lanka. This is the second such venture by a global automotive manufacturer in Sri Lanka. The project is a direct technical collaboration with Hyundai, the world’s third-largest automobile manufacturer and the most prominent to enter into vehicle assembly and localization in Sri Lanka.