Hyundai Motor America To Expand Central Region Office And Parts and Distribution Center

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., March 6 -- Hyundai Motor America (HMA) today announced a land purchase in Aurora, Ill. to construct a 350,800 square-foot facility for the expansion of its Central Region office and Parts and Distribution Center. The new facility, to be developed by Prime Group Realty Trust, is adjacent to the I-88 Tollway in the Prime Aurora Business Park. This facility is the largest built-to-suit project in the I-88 market in the last three years.

Located on 19.65 acres of land, the nearly $17 million facility will house HMA's Central Region office, as well as expand its Central Parts Distribution Center. The facility will include more than 320,000 square feet of warehouse space, 26 exterior truck docks, 35-foot ceilings, 30,000 square feet of office space and parking for 150 vehicles. In addition, the Central Region office is increasing its technical training classroom space from two rooms to three. Groundbreaking and construction for the facility is expected to begin this month and be completed by the fourth quarter of this year.

``The construction of this new facility marks yet another milestone for Hyundai in the United States,'' said president and CEO Finbarr O'Neill. ``By expanding our Central Region office and Parts Distribution Center, Hyundai is able to better meet the growing needs of our dealers in the region.''

The Central Region office will employ 20 percent more employees than the previous facility -- 25 people are currently employed with its Parts Distribution Center servicing 13 states including: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Additionally, HMA has two other Parts Distribution Centers located in Jamesburg, N.J. and Ontario, Calif. and shares a third center with Kia Motors America in Atlanta, Ga.

``We are extremely pleased to welcome Hyundai Motor America to Prime Aurora Business Park. This will be the largest built-to-suit project in the I-88 market in the last three years,'' said Steven R. Baron, executive vice president of Prime Group Realty Trust. ``The Hyundai transaction validates the benefits of our location for those seeking tollway identity and ease of access to I-88.''

Currently the Central Region office and Parts Distribution Center are located at 700 N. Enterprise St. in Aurora, Ill. The Aurora Parts Distribution Center has been recognized as one of the most efficient automotive parts distribution facilities in North America. The center also handles parts distribution for Kia Motors America in the Midwestern area.

Hyundai Motor America vehicle sales rose 42 percent last year to 346,235 units from 263,610 in 2000, making Hyundai the fifth-best-selling import in the U.S.

Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sports utility vehicles are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 575 dealerships nationwide.