Consecutive Trademark Applications... Hyundai Motor Group Shows Direction for Social Contribution

Kia Motors Progressing Medical Mask Trademark Application
Hyundai Motors Applies for Trademarks for Safety Consulting, Startup Consulting, and Car Amusement Park
Hyundai Motor Group Expands Social Contribution Activities Reflecting Its Characteristics

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Hyundai Motor Group has filed a large number of trademark applications related to social contribution projects such as medical mask business, safety consulting services, startup consulting, and the establishment of automobile amusement parks. In particular, there is a prospect that Kia Motors could brand the masks it is currently producing for its own quarantine purposes through the trademark registration for the medical mask business.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office on the 24th, Hyundai Kia Motors has recently been proceeding with trademark application procedures related to social contribution activities, including ▲SAFE MOVE ▲HAPPY MOVE ▲NEXT MOVE ▲DREAM MOVE ▲EASY MOVE ▲GREEN MOVE. Currently, these trademarks have completed the application examination and are in the process of receiving objections from unspecified third parties regarding trademark registration. If no objections are raised and the final registration is completed, the right to exclusively use the trademarks will be obtained.

Among them, the most notable trademark is SAFE MOVE, applied for by Kia Motors. Kia Motors applied for the designated goods and services of this trademark to include medical respiratory masks, medical oxygen masks, non-medical gas masks, protective masks, and others. Because of this, there is an interpretation that Kia Motors could brand the masks currently produced at overseas local factories for its employees under the name SAFE MOVE.

Since April, Kia Motors has been producing and supplying masks for local employees at its Yancheng plant in China and Georgia plant in the United States, and is also producing masks domestically through consignment factories such as Donghee Auto.

The masks produced at Kia Motors plants are supplied to approximately 280,000 Hyundai Motor Group employees working worldwide, including Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis, Hyundai Construction, and Hyundai Steel. A Kia Motors official said, "We are producing masks for employees and customers to strengthen internal quarantine," adding, "There are no plans to sell them for profit."

Hyundai Motor Company also applied for a trademark with the same name, SAFE MOVE, but for different purposes. Hyundai Motor Company submitted the application for purposes such as safety-related information services, disaster planning and recovery consulting, traffic safety education, and providing automobile-themed amusement parks.

Looking at other trademarks recently applied for by Hyundai Motor Company, such as HAPPY MOVE, NEXT MOVE, and DREAM MOVE, one can glimpse the direction of Hyundai Motor Group’s new businesses and social contribution activities. Hyundai Motor Group appears to be considering various new social contribution businesses, including startup consulting (DREAM MOVE), environmental protection information services and natural ecology learning center management (GREEN MOVE), racing vehicle maintenance, repair, and rental (NEXT MOVE), and wheelchair lift manufacturing (EASY MOVE).

A Hyundai Motor Group official said, "While registering trademarks for the '4 Major Moves' representing Hyundai Motor Group’s four major social contribution activities, we applied broadly to keep various possibilities open for the use of the trademarks," adding, "We will continue to fulfill our corporate social responsibility through diverse social contribution activities that reflect the characteristics of the group."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.