Thinking CAP – CAP's manufacturer relationships manager Martin Ward scours the globe for the week's insider fleet intelligence

Tuesday

Over to the Czech Republic for the opening of Hyundai’s new plant in Nosovice.

Work started on the site in April 2007 and was completed in record time in November last year.

We saw the raw metal going in at one end – just 21 hours later this metal would be a finished car being driven off the final assembly line.

Nearly 50 cars per hour roll off the production line, and the Nosovice site will build 200,000 i30 hatchback and Wagons this year, and up to 300,000 next year when two more models will be built there, including a new model for sister company Kia.

About 95% of the 1,800-strong workforce are local Czech citizens and earn on average 850 euros per month, and there is no shortage of people wanting to work in this modern facility.

Currently there is only one shift, but when the global automotive market improves Hyundai will start hiring more locals to implement a second shift.

The average age of the employees is 29, with 24% being female.

Allan Rushforth, Hyundai Europe’s vice-president, told me the market is tough, with challenging times ahead, and that the company is reviewing the market regularly but cannot predict when things will improve.

More than 30% of finished vehicles are taken from the facility by train – a new rail-head was constructed and this not only transports finished cars but also brings in raw materials.

While we were there Thomas Burkle, Hyundai’s chief designer, showed his latest concept car, the IX-onic, which we were told will be the replacement for the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage SUVs.

Although this model is a concept, the real thing which is due early next year will look very similar.

It is 4.4 metres long, so with the right engines and front-wheel drive it could easily compete with mainstream cars such as the Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf and Nissan Qashqai.

Thursday

Down to Henley-on-Thames to have our first proper drive in the Kia Soul.

As I’ve said previously, the Soul is a love-or-hate car, and even within Kia staff some are still not sure about its design.

When I first saw it many months ago in an R&D centre in Germany I couldn’t believe my eyes, and wondered what on earth Kia was playing at.

But now I do like it – it is different and mould-breaking.

In these days where most manufacturers are playing it safe, it is refreshing to see something so different.

I drove it around Henley and it is comfortable, you are sat high enough to see over walls, over the car in front of you and feel in a commanding position.

I got plenty of looks, but didn’t feel embarrassed – it seemed to get the thumbs-up, which was surprising.

There is more room in it than you think, with plenty of space for five adults, and with a flat rear seat back, there are no humps in the middle to stick in your back.

I drove a 1.6-litre Burner, in black with a red interior, which costs £14,995, but the one to have is the 1.6-litre petrol Soul-2 priced at £11,495 – this has the combination of the right engine and right spec at a sensible-ish price.