SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Group said on Thursday it plans to expand its sport utility vehicle (SUV) and eco-friendly vehicle lineup in Brazil as it seeks to strengthen its position in the Latin American market.

Executive Chair Euisun Chung recently toured Hyundai Motor Co.'s plant in Sao Paulo and the group's regional headquarters for Latin America during President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to Brazil, the group said in a press release.

Hyundai Motor produces about 200,000 vehicles a year in Brazil, including its HB20 subcompact and i20 hatchback models.

The company plans to expand its SUV lineup, introduce locally tailored eco-friendly vehicles and develop hydrogen infrastructure to support future growth, the release said.

Hyundai expects SUVs to account for 51.2 percent of Brazil's passenger vehicle market by 2030, up from 43 percent last year.

The automotive conglomerate also aims to produce a compact electric vehicle at its Brazil plant while developing a flex-fuel vehicle (FFV) capable of running on gasoline, ethanol or a blend of the two. Brazil imposes a 35 percent tariff on imported eco-friendly vehicles.

Hyundai added it plans to explore opportunities in hydrogen production, hydrogen mobility and hydrogen fuel cell systems.

The company, one of South Korea's largest business conglomerates, meanwhile, sold 96,723 vehicles in Brazil in the first six months of the year, up 12 percent from a year earlier, helped by strong demand for SUVs.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr

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