Hyundai 2004 Annual Report Download - page 17

Hyundai Motor Company Annual Report 2004_32
Global Report
respectively. Hyundai as a brand was ranked in the top
seven, outranking Toyota and Mercedes Benz.
Five Hyundai models - the Accent, Elantra, Santa Fe, Sonata
and Tiburon - earned the title “Best Bet” in Jack Gillis’ The
Car Book 2005. The Car Book, in cooperation with the
Center for Auto Safety, selects vehicles for this distinction
based on how well they respond to the safety and perfor-
mance needs of today’s consumer. American consumers
are recognizing this quality and brand reliability as well, by
repurchasing Hyundai vehicles at a growing rate. This year,
Hyundai’s repurchasing rate in America was in the top four
overall for automobiles. We are extremely proud of this
major accomplishment.
The Consumer Report magazine study for Vehicle Reliability,
well-known for its fairness and objectivity, as well as its
power in influencing American consumer purchasing, ranked
the Hyundai Sonata as number three in the category of Best
Car 2004, outpacing the Honda and Nissan.
These affirmative evaluations by well-known American mar-
ket evaluators demonstrate that Hyundai Motor has a bright
future in America. Our safety, quality, and brand value are all
highly appraised. The company plans on continuing to target
the American market through the development of
higher-class, value-added vehicles.
sedan as named in the 2004 Initial Quality Survey by J.D.
Power and Associates, Hyundai has reinforced its efforts to
ensure that its factory and local suppliers produce and use
parts of the highest quality. To accomplish this aim, 35 quality
experts from Korea have established a company-wide quality
management system covering all production processes. Their
goal is to attain the highest level of quality via comprehensive
durability tests and real-car monitoring for the 900 test
Sonatas scheduled for production prior to the manufacture of
units for sale to the public.
New California Proving Ground Makes History
In March 2005, HMA cut the ribbon opening its
state-of-the-art proving ground in California, which at 4,300
acres, is nothing short of spectacular. This site, together with
the new manufacturing plant in Alabama, means that Hyundai
is capable of undertaking every step of vehicle manufacturing
from design to testing and final assembly, on North American
soil. The proving ground will be HMA’s main proving ground,
testing the performance and durability of all the parts and
vehicles sold in the United States.
Hyundai-Kia California Design and Technical Center
Several innovative vehicles have emerged from the Design
Center, including three concept roadsters: HCD-I, HCD-II and
HCD-6; the HCD-III, a hybrid sport utility vehicle; the
Cross-tourer (HCD-5) sport utility vehicle; the HCD-7 luxury
sedan; and the HCD-8 sports tourer. The influence of the
California Design Center can be clearly seen in the sleek lines
of the first-generation Hyundai Tiburon coupe and the Santa
Fe sport utility vehicle.
The New Hyundai America Technical Center
The Hyundai Kia America Technical Center (HATCI), to be
opened in June 2005, will have the capability of designing and
developing vehicles, and is part of our ongoing commitment to
the United States market. It will be located in the vicinity of
Ann Arbor, Michigan. This facility will be at the core of our
research and development in the United States, and will be
responsible for all engineering activities in the U.S. for
Hyundai. This Center will operate in conjunction with our LA
Design and Technical Center and Mojave Proving Ground.
This will insure the most modern design and expertise in auto-
motive engineering and is part of Hyundai’s ongoing goal of
excellence in vehicle design.
Recognition: Quality Satisfying American Consumers
J.D. Power & Associates, the authoritative market survey insti-
tute in America, ranked the Hyundai Sonata number one in its
2004 Initial Quality Survey of mid-size cars, outranking Toyota.
The Santa Fe and Accent also picked up laurels, coming in at
number two in the categories of small SUV and small car,
The new $60 million Proving Ground opened in
2005 in California.
Tucson was named best new crossover in the
2005 Canadian Car of the Year Awards.
Stanford University’s MBA Program & Hyundai
Hyundai Motor Co.’s success in the U.S. automobile
market has been recognized by Stanford University’s
MBA program as a model of managerial success.
According to Stanford, the course focuses on
“strategies and structural change” and will highlight
Hyundai Motor’s achievement in “reinventing
corporate brand worth.’ Other renowned universities,
including Harvard and MIT, will also be using Hyundai
as an example in their MBA courses.
Overseas Service & Quality Center
In December 1999, Hyundai Motor Company began
operation of its Overseas Service Quality Center
(OSQC), currently staffed by 12 expert engineers and
operating 24 hours a day. The OSQC’s main roles are
to communicate product quality issues between
distributors and related factory departments, to
handle customer concerns, and to respond to
technical assistance via the Internet. The OSQC is
currently equipped with a video conferencing facility,
allowing distributors to get real-time, visual support
from the OSQC staff. The program reinforces
Hyundai Motor’s commitment to communication and
first-class quality service to its customers and
distribution partners around the world.
Overseas Road & Service Vehicle Program
This year, Hyundai Motor Company shipped 300
service vehicles to 30 countries as part of its
worldwide ‘Overseas Service Vehicle Program”. This
program was designed to improve service levels to
Hyundai customers by allowing service professionals
to come directly to those customers in need, thereby
giving them faster, better service, anytime, anywhere.
Priority will be given to elderly, disabled, and rural
customers. In the coming year, HMC will increase its
shipment to more than 5,000 dealers in 193
countries. This program sets HMC apart from the
competition and confirms Hyundai’s image as a
service-centered company, providing quality and
reliability to customers around the world.