Hyundai
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About Hyundai
Born in 1967 as an offshoot of the Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company, the Hyundai Motor Company’s first foray into Automobile manufacturing came by way of the Ford Cortina, a model that Hyundai assembled and sold under license from the Ford Motor Company. Confident in the lessons learned from its arrangement with Ford, Hyundai decided to develop a vehicle in house and began looking internationally for personnel that could help navigate the design, engineering and marketing processes.
The company’s first recruit was George Turnbull, an executive pinched form British Leyland, who, in turn, hired several of his associates, including a chassis designer from the venerated British Racing Motors concern. Giorgio Giugiaro of ItalDesign was tapped to handle the body, and in 1975 the Hyundai Pony was born. Although Hyundai began exporting cars in the early 1980s, Hyundai wouldn’t enter the U.S. market until 1985.
Officially incorporated as Hyundai Motor America, the company based its business on selling to first-time car buyers. Hyundai launched its first offering, the Excel, in 1986, and it moved 168,882 units by the end of the year. That momentum propelled Hyundai to become the major player it is today.
In 1998 Hyundai and Kia merged and set out with two senses of self. While Kia would be the vibrant, sporty, and youthful brand, Hyundai would trend toward premium offerings and sophisticated buyers. And mature the brand has; In addition to launching a standalone luxury brand called Genesis, Hyundai has developed an incredibly diverse lineup of vehicles that ranges from the all-electric Kona compact crossover to the three-row Palisade to the three-door Veloster N hot hatch.
Although the vehicles have vastly improved in quality, design, and overall execution over the years, their pricing and features continue to make for some of the best values on the market. Hyundai provides excellent safety, a top-notch warranty and superior technology on a bevy of family-friendly rides.
