Suzuki Motor Corp. said Thursday its Hungarian subsidiary began production of the Ignis 1.3-liter car in a factory in Esztergom.
The ceremony to commemorate the start of Ignis production at the factory of Magyar Suzuki Corp. was attended by Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Medgyessy and Suzumi Motor Chairman Osamu Suzuki.
Suzuki Motor plans to export the Ignis to the European Union market, where compact cars are popular. Later, the factory will start manufacturing the 1.5-liter version of the Ignis.
Hungary is due to join the European Union next year.
The Hungarian factory has been manufacturing the Cultus car and the Wagon R Plus miniwagon at a combined annual pace of 85,000 units.
Because Suzuki Motor introduced the Ignis, it will halt manufacture of the Cultus, the automaker said.
Suzuki also announced it has signed an agreement with Italy's Fiat Auto S.p.A. to jointly develop and produce a new sport utility vehicle.
According to their agreement, the two automakers plan to start manufacturing the new SUVs at Suzuki's Esztergom factory in 2005.
They will market the new cars independently through their own sales channels.
