South Korean carmaker Hyundai started production at a new factory in the Czech Republic Monday.
The new company in Nosovice, which lies about 320 kilometres east of Prague, is expected to produce about 200,000 vehicles annually, Radio Prague reported.
About 1.1 billion euros (1.41 billion dollars) has been invested in the factory, which should employ about 3,000. The factory will initially do finishing work on production of the i30, a compact car designed for European markets.
Hyundai, along with its subsidiary Kia, is one of the world's 10 biggest automakers.

German exports plunged in November to record the biggest fall in nearly two decades, data released Thursday showed, as the deepening world economic downturn hits Europe's biggest economy.
When the Spirit rover landed on Mars five years ago, no one expected it or its sister rover Opportunity to make it to their first birthdays, let alone their fifth.
The San Antonio Spurs turned up their trademark defense down the stretch to turn back another opponent.
US singer and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, 27, dominated the nominations for the 40th NAACP Image Awards.
After the Taipei Zoo received two giant pandas from China, another Taiwan zoo said Friday it is seeking to receive a pair of pandas from China.