Hyundai has added a body parts stamping line to its factory in St Petersburg.

The addition came as Hyundai prepared to open its new assembly plant in the northern Russian city which is currently in test mode.

Formal opening is due in September with mass production beginning in January. The factory is scheduled to make around 150,000 vehicles per year by 2012.

Construction started on the EUR500m (US$624.7m) factory in June 2008.