Chairman Chung Eui-sun Wins Top Award at UK Autocar Awards: "From Chaser to Leader"

"Hyundai Motor Group, 10 Years of Remarkable Progress Led by Chung Eui-sun"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, received the highest award from a British automotive magazine with a 125-year history. Chairman Chung said, "I hope Hyundai Motor Group becomes a pioneer and game changer in the global mobility industry," adding, "Our focus is set on the future."

Hyundai Motor Group announced that Chairman Chung received the highest honor, the ‘Issigonis Trophy,’ at the 2021 Autocar Awards hosted by Autocar on the 8th (local time). Autocar, first published in 1895 as the world's earliest automotive magazine, holds significant international influence through its online and international editions, in addition to its English-speaking readership.

The Issigonis Trophy, named after the legendary automotive designer Sir Alec Issigonis, is the highest honor awarded annually to an individual who has achieved the most outstanding accomplishment in the global automotive industry. In 2018, Akio Toyoda, President of Toyota, received the award; in 2019, Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler; and last year, H?kan Samuelsson, CEO of Volvo, were recipients. Since the establishment of the Issigonis Trophy in 2014, Chairman Chung is the first Korean to receive this award.

During his tenure as President of Kia, Chairman Chung promoted ‘design management’ by recruiting top industry designers such as Peter Schreyer, and as Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, he led the group’s growth by launching the premium brand Genesis. Recently, he has been responding to the electrification trend with a two-track strategy. While releasing electric vehicle models such as the Ioniq 5 and EV6 based on the first dedicated electric vehicle platform E-GMP, he also introduced the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCEV) Nexo and launched the hydrogen fuel cell brand HTWO.

In an interview with Autocar regarding the rapid establishment in the electric vehicle sector, Chairman Chung explained, "It did not happen overnight," adding, "The reason we could move considerably faster than some competitors was because we had the ability to work quickly without compromising quality." He emphasized, "This mindset has positioned Hyundai Motor Group at the forefront of hydrogen fuel cell development and is driving innovation as a leader in smart mobility."

Chairman Chung also stated, "By 2025, we plan to launch 23 electric vehicle models through Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, prioritizing quality, customer satisfaction, and safety above all else," and added, "By then, Hyundai Motor Group aims to sell one million electric vehicles annually and increase its global market share to 10%."

Autocar also explained that Chairman Chung’s leadership was the background to Hyundai Motor Group’s growth. Steve Cropley, Editor of Autocar, emphasized, "Until ten years ago, Hyundai and Kia were perceived as ‘low-cost brands’ with limited market share, but under Chairman Chung’s leadership, they have made remarkable progress by securing market share and customers with cars comparable to major rival brands."

He continued, "Hyundai Motor Group has expanded into high-performance and premium markets with N and Genesis, and has emerged as a true industry leader in electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles," adding, "Hyundai Motor Group no longer tries to catch up with competitors; rather, other car companies are now chasing Hyundai Motor Group."

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