Hyundai 2005 Annual Report Download - page 10

18
Hyundai Motor Company
Annual Report 2005
>>Sublime Drive
17 Revving up the Hyundai Image
Powering On
American consumer interest in Hyundai vehicles is exploding. This is evident in the
enormous amount of media Hyundai automobiles are now receiving in the U.S.A. In
a five-page cover story in the ‘global BUSINESS’ section of its June 27 issue, TIME
Magazine covered Hyundai’s remarkable success in an article entitled “Hyundai
Gets Hip: How South Korea’s Leading Automaker Is Taking the Global Auto
Industry by Storm.”
Over four million American readers read the feature story on Hyundai Motor
Company. That the U.S.A edition, which accounts for 80 percent of the magazine’s
total circulation, featured an article about Hyundai is indicative of how local produc-
tion at HMMA has contributed to a steep rise in American consumer interest in
Hyundai automobiles. In turn, the feature story is expected to raise the image of
Hyundai vehicles in the U.S.A even more dramatically.
The article in the June 27th U.S.A edition followed an April cover story on Hyundai’s
success in the ‘global BUSINESS’ section of TIME’s Asian edition. Such coverage
reflects America’s growing interest in Hyundai which is now poised for dramatic
success in the U.S.A following the establishment of the highly automated factory, in
Alabama.
Reporting on the manufacture of the U.S.A made Hyundai Sonata, The Washington
Times, in a June 24 article stated, “the Sonata, assembled in the good old U.S.A at
Hyundai’s new $1 billion facilities in Alabama, is attractive and functional in all the
right places.” It also forecasts that the Sonata, as the vanguard in the enhanced
image of Hyundai cars, will receive enormous attention from customers in the
U.S.A.
The value of Hyundai Motor Company’s investment in U.S.A manufacturing should
not be underestimated. HMMA is the crowning glory of Hyundai’s recent dramatic
ascension in world automobile rankings and will catapult the brand into the con-
sciousness of every American consumer.
All-Star CEO
Driven by Greatness Towards Excellence
In 2005 Chung Mong-Koo, Hyundai Motor Company Chairman and CEO, was
ranked by a leading motor industry publication as the top CEO of an Asian auto
company.
The prestigious Automotive News “All-Star” Edition, published on July 11th 2005,
honored Chairman Chung by selecting him from an outstanding group of auto com-
pany CEO’s. He joins an elite list of past and present luminaries in the global auto-
motive industry to have been chosen for this award.
In recognizing Chairman Chung’s achievements, Automotive News pointed with dis-
tinction to the superior Hyundai brand and the rising tide of quality Hyundai vehicles.
Global Awareness
Glowing Praise
In the September 27th 2005 edition of the U.K based Financial Times, Hyundai
Motor Company was featured in a glowing article noting the rise of the Company.
The daily paper pointed to an astonishing 360 percent sales increase in the U.S.A
since 2000 as evidence of Hyundai’s growing global reputation.
Chairman and CEO Chung Mong-Koo was credited by the Financial Times for his
astute leadership since 2000. The daily cited Chairman Chung’s commitment to
quality management and global expansion, evaluating his management in the high-
est terms. According to the paper, it is Hyundai’s commitment to quality, best
exemplified by Chairman Chung’s introduction of the 10-year/100,000 mile warran-
ty which has been the primary catalyst for the enormous upward growth the com-
pany is experiencing.
Speaking with the Financial Times Chairman Chung promised to continue promot-
ing overseas production in light of the huge gains currently being made through
emerging markets such as China and India. Also outlined in the article was
Chairman Chung’s promise to the world to prepare for a better-than-Lexus luxury
model soon to be developed by Hyundai.
Leadership Achievements
“H yundai sales are rising around the world…
The industry is paying attention to the Korean
giant.” Automotive News “All-Star” Edition 2005/07/11