Hyundai Motor Company facts for kids
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Headquarters (right) in Seoul, South Korea
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| Public | |
| Traded as | KRX: 005380 LSE: HYUD |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 29 December 1967 |
| Founder | Chung Ju-yung |
| Headquarters |
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South Korea
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Production output
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 4,858,000 units (2016) |
| Revenue |  ₩117.61 trillion (2021) |
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Operating income
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₩6.68 trillion (2021) |
| ₩5.69 trillion (2021) |
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| Total assets | ₩233.95 trillion (2021) |
| Total equity | ₩82.61 trillion (2021) |
| Owners | Hyundai Mobis (21%) National Pension Service (9%) Chung Mong-koo (5%) Chung Eui-sun (3%) |
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Number of employees
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104,731 (2013) |
| Parent | Hyundai Motor Group |
| Divisions |
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| Subsidiaries |
List
Hyundai Motor India
Hyundai Motors Indonesia Hyundai Motor America Hyundai of Canada Hyundai Motor of South America Hyundai do Brasil Hyundai China Beijing Hyundai Hyundai Japan Hyundai Motor Philippines Hyundai Motor Europe |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
현대자동차 주식회사
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| Hanja |
現代自動車 株式會社
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| Revised Romanization | Hyeondae Jadongcha Jusikhoesa |
| McCune–Reischauer | Hyŏndae Chadongch'a Chushikhoesa |
The Hyundai Motor Company, often called Hyundai, is a big car maker from South Korea. It was started in 1967 and has its main office in Seoul. Hyundai owns a large part of Kia Corporation and also has its own luxury car brand, Genesis. They also have a special brand for electric vehicles called Ioniq. Together, these brands form the Hyundai Motor Group.
Hyundai has the world's biggest car factory in Ulsan, South Korea. This factory can make 1.6 million cars every year! The company has about 75,000 employees around the world. Hyundai cars are sold in 193 countries through many dealerships. As of 2022, Hyundai is the third-largest carmaker in the world. Only Toyota and Volkswagen make more cars.
Contents
How Hyundai Started: A Brief History
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Chung Ju-yung started the Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company in 1947. Later, in 1967, the Hyundai Motor Company was formed. Their first car, the Cortina, was made with help from Ford Motor Company in 1968.
When Hyundai wanted to design their own car, they hired George Turnbull in 1974. He was a top manager from a British car company. He then brought in five other skilled British car engineers. In 1975, they launched the Pony, which was the first car made in South Korea. Its design came from Italy, and its engine parts from Japan's Mitsubishi Motors.
Hyundai started selling cars in other countries like Ecuador and Europe in 1976. They entered the British market in 1982. In 1984, the Pony was exported to Canada and became very popular there. By 1985, Hyundai had built one million cars!
In 1986, Hyundai began selling cars in the United States. Their Excel car was even named one of the "Best Products" by Fortune magazine because it was so affordable. By 1988, Hyundai started making cars with their own technology, like the Sonata. In 1991, they developed their first own engine, the Alpha, and their own transmission. This helped them become more independent in technology.
In 1996, Hyundai opened a big factory in India. In 1998, Hyundai worked to improve its image and become a world-class brand. Chung Ju-yung passed the leadership to his son, Chung Mong-koo, in 1999. The company invested a lot in making cars better in quality, design, and research. They even offered a great 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty on cars sold in the United States.
In 2004, a study by J.D. Power and Associates ranked Hyundai very high for initial quality. Hyundai is now one of the top 100 most valuable brands globally. Since 2002, Hyundai has also been a major sponsor of the FIFA World Cup.
In 2014, Hyundai decided to make their cars even better to drive. They hired Albert Biermann, who used to work for BMW M, to help improve how Hyundai cars handle on the road. In 2020, Euisun Chung became the new chairman of the Hyundai Motor Group. In 2021, the company announced that its profits had increased a lot, which was great news for them.
How Hyundai Designs and Develops Cars
Hyundai has six research and development (R&D) centers around the world. Three are in South Korea, and others are in Germany, Japan, and India. They also have a design center in California, USA, which focuses on designs for the American market.
In 2003, Hyundai opened a new design and technical center in Irvine, California. This center also houses Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., which handles all engineering work for Hyundai in the U.S. In 2005, this technical center moved to a larger headquarters in Michigan.
In 2004, Hyundai built a huge testing ground in the Mojave Desert in California. This 4,300-acre facility has a 6.4-mile oval track, special areas for testing how cars handle, and different types of roads. It cost $50 million to build.
Hyundai is also very good at creating new designs. In 2020, they were ranked 4th in the world for their industrial design registrations by the WIPO.
Hyundai's Business Growth
In 1998, Hyundai bought most of its rival, Kia Motors. This happened after some financial challenges in the South Korean car industry. In 2000, Hyundai formed a partnership with DaimlerChrysler but later ended it.
Hyundai has built factories in many countries, including North America, India, the Czech Republic, Russia, China, and Turkey. They also have R&D centers in Europe, Asia, North America, and the Pacific Rim. In 2004, Hyundai Motor Company had sales of $57.2 billion in South Korea, making it the country's second-largest company.
In 2011, the Hyundai Motor Group was the world's fourth-largest carmaker. Hyundai cars are sold in 193 countries through about 5,000 dealerships. In 2021, Hyundai Motor Group bought a big part of the robotics company, Boston Dynamics.
What Hyundai Cars Look Like: Design Focus
In 2006, Hyundai hired Thomas Bürkle to lead their design center in Germany. He had designed cars for BMW before. Hyundai's design style used to be called Fluidic Sculpture, which was inspired by nature.
In 2018, the company introduced a new design idea called Sensuous Sportiness. This design was first shown with the Le Fil Rouge concept car at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. You can now see this design in many of their newer cars, from sedans to SUVs. This design approach even won an award in 2020!
Where Hyundai Makes Cars: Regional Operations
| Top 8 Hyundai and Genesis vehicle production by country, 2021 |
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|---|---|---|
| Rank | Country | Vehicle production |
| 1 |  South Korea |
1,646,888 |
| 2 |  India |
635,413 |
| 3 |  China |
360,565 |
| 4 |  United States |
288,967 |
| 5 |  Czech Republic |
275,620 |
| 6 |  Russia |
235,157 |
| 7 |  Brazil |
188,349 |
| 8 |  Turkey |
161,500 |
Hyundai has factories and offices all over the world. Here's a look at some of their key locations:
North America
United States
Hyundai Motor America started selling cars in the United States in 1986 with the Hyundai Excel. In their first year, they sold more cars than any other new car brand had before!
However, the Excel had some problems, and Hyundai's reputation for quality suffered. To fix this, Hyundai invested a lot in making their cars better. They also offered a great 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty, which helped people trust the brand again.
In 2002, Hyundai built a new factory in Montgomery, Alabama. This plant cost $1.7 billion and started making cars in 2005. By 2004, Hyundai's sales and reputation had greatly improved. They were even ranked very high for initial quality by J.D. Power and Associates.
In 2009, the Hyundai Genesis luxury car won the "North American Car of the Year" award. This was a big achievement for Hyundai. In 2012, the Hyundai Elantra also won this award.
Hyundai is also looking to the future with flying cars! In 2020, they created a company called Supernal to work on urban air mobility (UAM). They plan to build a new plant in the United States to make flying taxis, with test flights possibly starting in 2024.
Canada
The Hyundai Pony was very popular in Canada starting in 1984. It sold much better than expected and was one of Canada's best-selling cars that year.
In 1989, Hyundai opened a factory in Bromont, Quebec, Canada. This plant was designed to make about 2,000 Hyundai Sonatas each week. However, the plant closed after four years because Hyundai's sales couldn't support it. Even without a local factory, Hyundai is a top import car brand in Canada, selling over 100,000 cars a year by 2012.
Mexico
Hyundai Motor México started selling cars in Mexico in 2014. Before that, Hyundai cars were sold in Mexico under the Dodge brand.
South America
Brazil
In 2012, Hyundai launched a new small car called the HB20 in Brazil. This car was designed especially for the Brazilian market and is built at a new Hyundai factory in Piracicaba, São Paulo. This factory can make 180,000 cars per year.
Asia
China
Hyundai cars, including those from its sister company Kia, sold well in China until 2016. After that, sales dropped. Hyundai works with a Chinese partner, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., in a joint company called Beijing Hyundai. They make cars in China, including some models just for the Chinese market. Beijing Hyundai has five factories in China.
India
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) was started in 1996. Hyundai's first car in India, the Hyundai Santro, was launched in 1998 and was very successful. It became the second best-selling car in the country.
Hyundai Motor India is now the second-largest car exporter from India. They are making India a global hub for making small cars. Hyundai has two factories in India with a total capacity of 600,000 cars per year. In 2007, Hyundai also opened an R&D center in Hyderabad, where engineers work on developing new vehicles.
Japan
Hyundai Motors started selling passenger cars in Japan again in 2022, after leaving the market in 2009. Now, they only sell electric cars online in Japan. Hyundai had struggled in Japan before, selling only a few cars. The company said they might come back fully if the market gets better.
One reason for their past struggles was that they focused on larger cars, but Japanese customers prefer smaller cars due to parking space. For example, they tried to sell the mid-sized Sonata to housewives, but they usually prefer compact cars.
On February 9, 2022, Hyundai announced their return to Japan. They are selling eco-friendly cars like the Ioniq 5 and Nexo under the name Hyundai Mobility Japan.
Philippines
Hyundai first came to the Philippines in the early 1990s. They have an assembly plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna, which produces some Hyundai models. As of June 2022, Hyundai has 39 dealerships in the country.
There are two main Hyundai companies in the Philippines. Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) used to sell passenger cars and now focuses on commercial vehicles like jeepneys, trucks, and buses. Hyundai Motor Philippines, Inc. (HMPH) became the official seller of Hyundai passenger cars in early 2022. They launched four new models in June 2022.
Indonesia
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In 2019, Hyundai announced they were building their first fully owned car plant in Southeast Asia, located in Indonesia. This factory, called Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (HMMI), will start making cars in 2021 and can produce 150,000 vehicles per year. Half of these cars will be sent to nearby countries in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, Hyundai Motor works with Thanh Cong Group to form Hyundai Thanh Cong Vietnam (HTV). Hyundai is the top-selling car brand in Vietnam, selling more cars than Toyota and Kia.
Turkey
In 1997, Hyundai opened a factory in İzmit, Turkey, called Hyundai Assan Otomotiv. This factory is a joint effort between Hyundai and a Turkish company. It can produce 125,000 cars per year and makes models like the Accent and i20. In 2013, the factory's capacity was increased to 200,000 units.
Europe
Germany
Hyundai has an R&D center in Frankfurt, Germany, since 1994. This center helps design new cars for the European market. In 2003, Hyundai opened its new European headquarters in Rüsselsheim.
Czech Republic
In 2008, Hyundai opened a large factory in Nošovice, Czech Republic. This plant cost over 1 billion euros and makes cars like the i30 and ix35 for the European market. It can produce 300,000 cars annually.
Russia
In Russia, Hyundai cars have been made at the TagAZ plant since 2001. In 2008, Hyundai started building a new factory in Saint Petersburg, which began mass production in 2011. This plant makes models like the Hyundai Solaris and Kia Rio. In 2021, Hyundai also opened a car engine factory in Saint Petersburg, which is the biggest in Russia. In 2024, Hyundai sold its plants in Russia.
Africa
Southern Africa
In Botswana, Hyundai cars like the Accent and Sonata were assembled from parts since 1993. Most of these cars were then sent to South Africa for sale.
Egypt
Hyundai cars are also made in Egypt by the Ghabbour Group in Cairo. They offer a wide range of models, including some special sports versions just for the Egyptian market.
What Kinds of Vehicles Does Hyundai Make?
| Rank | Model | Global sales |
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| 1 | Tucson | 560,862 |
| 2 | Elantra / Avante / i30 Sedan | 370,973 |
| 3 | Creta/ix25 | 303,077 |
| 4 | i10/Xcent/Aura | 284,791 |
| 5 | Kona/Kauai | 234,614 |
| 6 | Santa Fe | 214,744 |
| 7 | Venue | 188,701 |
| 8 | i20 | 170,440 |
| 9 | Palisade | 151,427 |
| 10 | Sonata | 136,088 |
Hyundai makes many types of vehicles, including sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs, vans, and trucks.
Popular Hyundai Cars
Hyundai's top-selling sedan in 2021 was the Elantra (called Avante in South Korea). It's made in many factories around the world. Another popular sedan is the Accent/Verna, which is liked in many countries.
Other sedan models include the mid-size Sonata and the executive Grandeur. Hyundai also makes special sedan models just for the Chinese market.
For hatchbacks, Hyundai has models like the i10 and i20, which are built in India and Europe. The Santro was first made for the Indian market in 1998. The i30 is a popular car for developed markets, and the HB20 is made for Brazil.
Cool Hyundai Crossovers and SUVs
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Hyundai got into the crossover SUV market early with the Santa Fe in 2000, followed by the smaller Tucson in 2004. The Santa Fe was a huge success in America and Europe. It quickly became one of Hyundai's best-selling cars. By 2020, Hyundai had sold over 5.26 million Santa Fe units globally.
The first Tucson shared its platform with the Kia Sportage. The Tucson name was brought back for the third generation in 2015 and is now used in all markets. The Tucson was the fourth best-selling SUV in the world in 2020.
In the mid-2010s, Hyundai started making smaller SUVs like the Creta (2014) and the Kona (2017). The Kona also comes in hybrid and electric versions. By 2019, these models became very popular. The Creta has been the best-selling SUV in Russia since 2016 and in India in 2020. In 2021, Hyundai released the Casper, their smallest car, in South Korea.
Currently, Hyundai makes 12 different crossover SUV models for various markets.
Hyundai's Hybrid and Electric Cars
Hyundai started working on flexible-fuel vehicles (FFVs) in 1988. They also experimented with hybrid cars in 1994, showing their first hybrid, the FGV-1, in 1995. Hyundai uses a "parallel" hybrid design, where either the engine or the electric motor can power the car.
The first pure electric car from Hyundai was the Sonata Electric Vehicle in 1991. Hyundai began making hybrid cars for sale in large numbers in 2008. They use special lithium polymer batteries in their hybrid cars. The 2011 Sonata Hybrid started selling in the U.S. in 2011.
In 2009, Hyundai released the Avante LPI Hybrid in South Korea. They also showed an electric prototype of the i10 called the Hyundai BlueOn in 2009. By March 2014, Hyundai and Kia had sold a total of 200,000 hybrid cars worldwide.
In 2016, Hyundai introduced the Ioniq, a car designed to compete with the Toyota Prius. The Ioniq is special because it's the first car to be offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric version, without a regular gasoline-only option.
In 2020, Hyundai announced that Ioniq would become its own brand for electric cars. This is Hyundai's second stand-alone brand after Genesis. The new Ioniq cars will use Hyundai's special Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). This platform allows for fast charging and a long driving range. The first Ioniq electric car, the Ioniq 5, came out in early 2021. It will be followed by the Ioniq 6 sedan in 2022 and the Ioniq 7 large SUV in 2024.
The Ioniq 5 is Hyundai's most advanced electric car. It can charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes with a fast charger. A five-minute charge can add 100 km (62 miles) to its range! Its maximum range is about 480 km (298 miles).
In 2022, Hyundai announced a new factory in South Korea that will only make electric vehicles. Production is set to begin in 2025.
Hyundai's Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles
In 2018, Hyundai launched the Nexo, a hydrogen-powered SUV. By October 2020, over 10,000 Nexo vehicles had been sold in South Korea.
In 2020, Hyundai also launched a hydrogen-powered version of its Xcient truck called the Xcient Fuel Cell. This is the world's first hydrogen fuel cell truck made for production. Hyundai chose to launch it in Switzerland because of favorable road tax rules for zero-emission trucks. The Xcient Fuel Cell truck can travel about 400 km (249 miles) and refuels in 8 to 20 minutes.
Hyundai also makes a hydrogen-powered bus called the Elec City FCEV. This bus can carry 44 passengers and has a driving range of 434 km (270 miles).
Light Commercial Vehicles
Hyundai Motor started making the H350 van (also called Solati) in Turkey in 2015.
Trucks and Buses
Hyundai's Truck & Bus division makes several heavy trucks and buses. They started selling trucks in 1969 and buses in 1970.
Hyundai's Environmental Efforts
In 2008, Hyundai Motor started a five-year project to turn 50 square kilometers of barren land into grassland in China. This project, called Hyundai Green Zone, aims to stop dust storms in Beijing and protect the local environment. It was the company's first big environmental project.
Hyundai in Racing: Motorsport
Hyundai entered motorsport by competing in the F2 class of the World Rally Championship in 1998. In 1999, they showed the Accent WRC, a rally car based on the Hyundai Accent. The Hyundai World Rally Team started racing the car in 2000. They achieved their best result in 2001, with Alister McRae finishing fourth.
In 2003, Hyundai announced they would leave the WRC due to budget problems. They planned to return later, which they did not. In 2012, Hyundai announced they would return to the WRC with a rally version of their i20 car.
Hyundai i20 WRC
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The Hyundai i20 WRC is a rally car built by Hyundai for the 2014 World Rally Championship. It's based on the Hyundai i20 car and was shown at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. This car marked Hyundai's return to the World Rally Championship after ten years. The car is managed by Hyundai's performance division, Hyundai Motorsport, from Germany.
How Hyundai Connects with People: Marketing
Giving Back: Corporate Social Responsibility
In 2008, Hyundai Motors created a committee to manage its Corporate Social Responsibility programs. One of these programs is the "Happy Move Global Youth Volunteers Program."
The Hyundai Motors' India Foundation (HMIF) has invested a lot of money in social responsibility programs in India. In 2011, they started the "Go Green" project to promote eco-friendly products and improve living conditions in villages. They have also helped many schools by donating benches and drilling water wells.
In 2020, Hyundai Motors partnered with the UN Development Programme for a campaign called ‘for Tomorrow’. This campaign aims to find solutions for global problems. A documentary film about this project was released in 2022.
Sponsoring Sports and Events
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Hyundai is a big sponsor of many sports teams and events around the world.
- BCCI (Cricket)
- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC (Football/Soccer)
- FIFA (World Cup, since 1999)
- International Cricket Council
- UEFA (European Football, 2000–2017)
- Cricket World Cup (Until 2015)
- Korea Football Association
- A-League (Australian Soccer)
- National Football League (American Football)
- Sun Bowl (American College Football)
- Hyundai Tournament of Champions (Golf)
- Olympique Lyonnais (French Football, 2013–2020)
- PFC CSKA Moscow (Russian Football)
- Millonarios Fútbol Club (Colombian Football)
- Club Universitario de Deportes (Peruvian Football)
- Tampines Rovers FC (Singaporean Football)
- Al-Fateh SC (Saudi Arabian Football)
- Moroka Swallows F.C. (South African Football)
- Mandurah City FC (Australian Football)
- Park United FC (Irish Football)
- Carlton Football Club (Australian Rules Football)
- Brisbane Lions (Australian Rules Football)
- Brisbane Broncos (Rugby League)
- AS Cannes Volley-Ball (Volleyball)
- Hyundai Hockey Helpers (Ice Hockey)
- Rhys Millen (Rally Driver)
- Atlético Madrid (Spanish Football)
- Hertha BSC (German Football)
- Chelsea FC (English Football)
- AS Roma (Italian Football)
Hyundai also sponsors other events like the Academy Awards and CNN Worldwide.
See also
In Spanish: Hyundai Motor Company para niños
- Hyundai Group
- Hyundai Mobis
- Hyundai Motor Group
- Kia Motors
- List of Korean car makers
