H100 hits the Apex

Hyundai Automotive South Africa is now producing its second model on local shores – and it’s another commercial vehicle!

Since its local introduction in 2002, nearly 60 000 Hyundai H100 bakkies have been sold, and the company has now begun assembling its evergreen 1,3 t workhorse in South Africa. The H100 is the second model to roll out of the company’s 32 000 m2 Apex Assembly Plant – located in Benoni on Gauteng’s East Rand – after assembly of the brand’s HD series of medium trucks began in September 2014.

The vehicles are being assembled in the semi-knocked-down (SKD) format, currently in batches of 60. By September, Hyundai hopes to have increased production numbers to batches of 360 vehicles a month.

According to Wade Griffin, director for commercial vehicles at Hyundai Automotive SA, the H100 vehicles being assembled in Benoni will be supplied only to inland dealers. It currently makes more economic sense for the coastal dealers to continue to be supplied with fully-built-up imported units.

Hyundai has 42 stand-alone commercial dealers in South Africa.

At full production, Hyundai expects to provide a total of 60 jobs at the plant. Currently, the workforce has been increased to 51. “One of the important benefits of this extension of our SKD production is job creation. It also bears testimony to Hyundai’s commitment to the local automotive market,” says Griffin.

In assembling the H100 locally, Hyundai has not compromised on quality standards. In February five engineers were sent to the plant by Hyundai Motor Company to oversee quality control procedures and to train and upskill the factory’s workforce. In addition, there is a full-time quality control engineer on duty at the assembly plant.

Also on site at the assembly plant, is Taylor Made Truck Bodies, an Imperial subsidiary owned by Hyundai. “This makes us the only assembler to have its own bodybuilder on site,” says Griffin. “The benefits are that we can deliver a complete vehicle directly to a dealer and offer customers versatile options to customise the body for their own requirements.”

While the company produces a range of body options for the HD series, it also offers a tipper conversion for the H100 – of which it currently produces between ten and 15 a month. Of course, there is always the H100’s popular canopy from Beekman (also an Imperial subsidiary).

Hyundai offers a range of genuine accessories to make working with the H100 that much more convenient. These include a genuine Hyundai tow bar (the H100 has a maximum brake-assisted trailer towing capacity of 1 250 kg), a Hyundai bull bar with a lifetime guarantee, and three different-sized exterior-mounted toolboxes.

According to Hyundai, one of the reasons why the H100 was considered for local assembly is because it is one of the most successful vehicles in the company’s local model range. Now proudly made in South Africa, it’s sure to continue moving the company, and its customers, from strength to strength.