The First Day
Our day started in the Hyundai HQ’s conference room with a short presentation by Frank Ahrens, Vice President & Head of Corporate Communications, on the company’s history and where they are headed for the future.
There were a few cars displayed on the ground floor:
Kia models on display as well:
Here’s a timeline of Hyundai's amazing track record, with every year of the last 20 a milestone. If we look back from where they started in '67, and where they are today, it'll give us an overall idea of Hyundai's momentum:
1967 – Hyundai Motor Company was established.
1968 – Signs licensing agreement with Ford UK for CKD assembly of the Ford Cortina.
1974 – Introduced Hyundai’s first proprietary car - Pony - at the Turin Motor Show.
1976 – Exported the Pony (to Ecuador) for the first time.
1981 - Signed technical alliance with Mitsubishi.
1983 – Hyundai Auto Canada starts operations.
1986 – Entered the US market with budget car, the Excel. Launched Hyundai Grandeur (rebadged Mitsubishi Debonair).
1988 – Launched the Sonata.
1991 – Launched their first proprietary 4-cylinder petrol engine, the Alpha. Developed first pure electric vehicle, also a Sonata.
1994 – Launched Accent (Verna).
1995 – Launched their 2nd 4-cylinder petrol engine, the Beta. Opened Jeonju plant for commercial vehicles.
1996 – Opened R&D Center at Namyang, Korea. Achieved cumulative sales of 10 million units. Opened Asan Plant. Launched Tiburon (coupe).
1997 – Opened first overseas plant HAOS in Turkey. Launched Atos. Introduced 4-cylinder petrol engine, the Epsilon.
1998 –
Opened Hyundai Motor Plant in India. Launched all aluminium V6 engine, the Delta. Acquired KIA Motor Corporation.
1999 – Launched Equus (Centennial) & Trajet.
2000 – Strategic alliance with Daimler-Chrysler. Hyundai Motor Group formed. HQ moved to Yangjae-dong, Seoul. Introduced D-1, first diesel engine for passenger cars.
2001 – Introduced Santa Fe fuel-cell electric vehicle.
2002 – Opened Hyundai-Kia Design & Technical Center at Irvine, CA. Launched Getz. Established Beijing Hyundai Motor Co. Signed global engine alliance with Daimler-Chrysler & Mitsubishi.
2003 – Opened Hyundai Motor Technical Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
2004 – Achieved cumulative exports of 10 million units. Developed Tucson Fuel-Cell vehicle & Getz petrol–electric hybrid.
2005 – Opened California Proving Ground. Opened US plant, HMMA. Opened Eco-Technology Research Institute in Mabuk, Korea.
2006 – Launched Veracruz.
2007 –
Launched i10 in India. Launched Genesis.
2008 –
Opened 2nd plant in India, doubled its installed capacity from 300,000 units to 600,000. Opened 2nd plant in China. Opened plant in Czech Republic, the HMMC. Launched Genesis coupe. Introduced new R-Diesel engine. Tau included among 2009 Ward’s (Ward's AutoWorld) 10 best diesel engines. Launched Avante LPi Hybrid, Hyundai’s 1st hybrid car.
2010 – Genesis awarded the
North American Car of the Year. Unveiled Sonata Hybrid. Unveiled BlueOn, their first electric vehicle. Opened plant in Russia, the HMMR. Introduced 8-speed automatic transmission. Started building its third plant in China.
2011 –
Launched Eon in India. Introduced CNG hybrid bus. Started building plant in Brazil, HMB. Launched Velostar. Launched i40.
2012 – Elantra awarded
North American Car of the Year title. Opened plant in Brazil, HMB.
2013 – Started mass production of ix35 Fuel Cell.