Hyundai Shuts Korean SUV Plant After Worker Tests Positive
February 28 2020 - 3:13PM
Dow Jones News
By Ben Foldy
Hyundai Motor Co. has stopped building its popular Palisade SUV
and other U.S.-sold SUV models due to a factory worker in Korea
testing positive for the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
The work stoppage at the automaker's plant in Ulsan, South Korea
began Friday. The company said the plant has been disinfected but
it doesn't yet have a date to resume operations.
The plant makes the U.S.-sold Palisade and the smaller Tucson
crossover - the company's second-best selling model - as well as
the Genesis GV-80 and the globally-sold Santa Fe crossover. These
SUVs are among the company's most popular models, particularly in
the U.S., and an extended shutdown could eventually weigh on its
global results.
SUVs accounted for just over 40% of Hyundai's worldwide sales
last year.
U.S. Hyundai dealers say they haven't seen disruptions yet in
the flow of new models, even though the virus outbreak previously
idled some Korean plants in early February. But they're closely
watching the situation, particularly on the Palisade which is
already in short supply.
Write to Ben Foldy at Ben.Foldy@WSJ.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 28, 2020 14:58 ET (19:58 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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