Hyundai Dominates North America and Europe Car Awards... Aiming to Surpass the Big 3

North America, Canada, and Germany Car of the Year Selection
Renault Alliance-Stellantis and Big 3 Competition

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] Hyundai Motor Group is experiencing a heightened global status this year by sweeping the top awards (Winner) at 10 major automotive ceremonies in North America and Europe. Especially, with strong global sales, the group is stepping beyond the traditional fast follower role to join the ranks of the 'global top tier,' marking this year as a turning point in its first challenge against the 'Big 3.'

Changed Status... Sweeping North American and European Automotive Awards

According to industry sources on the 15th, Hyundai Motor Group has won a total of six top awards at 10 major automotive awards in North America and Europe this year. Additionally, it received 12 awards in various category ceremonies. This performance surpasses the top awards won by competitors with many subsidiary brands such as Volkswagen (1), Toyota (1), and Ford (2).

First, in country and regional awards, Hyundai achieved triple crowns in five awards including North America, Europe, Worldwide, Canada, and Germany. Hyundai's Elantra (Avante) was named North American Car of the Year, Genesis GV80 was selected as Canada's Utility Vehicle of the Year, and Ioniq 5 was awarded Germany's Car of the Year. The winners include electric vehicles, luxury cars, and internal combustion engine vehicles evenly.

At prestigious automotive media awards, Hyundai also secured three top awards from Top Gear, MotorTrend, and Auto Express. The selected models were Hyundai i20N, Genesis GV70, and Ioniq 5, respectively.

The industry is particularly paying attention to Top Gear naming Hyundai's i20N as Car of the Year. Top Gear is known for being generally critical of Asian manufacturers. Until the early 2000s, Hyundai was even described as a 'refrigerator and washing machine on wheels.' However, this award has significantly elevated Hyundai Motor Group's status.

The winning streak is expected to continue. Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated electric vehicles, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, have been shortlisted as finalists for the '2022 European Car of the Year (COTY),' with final results expected in February next year. The North American Car of the Year awards in January next year will also be a key point to watch. Currently, Ioniq 5 and GV70 are finalists for North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, and the pickup truck Santa Cruz is a finalist for North American Truck of the Year, with results pending.

As Hyundai Motor Group advances, Chairman Chung Euisun has recently been recognized for his leadership in the global automotive industry. In fact, the UK's automotive magazine Autocar awarded Chairman Chung the 'Issigonis Trophy' at the 2021 Autocar Awards in June. Autocar, first published in 1895 as the world's earliest automotive magazine, annually honors individuals and products that have achieved remarkable results in the global automotive industry.

Sales Surge with Changed Status... Aiming for the Big 3

Building on these achievements, Hyundai Motor Group is challenging the Big 3 for the first time this year. According to cumulative sales data from the first to third quarters announced by various automotive groups and associations, Volkswagen Group (6.95 million units) and Toyota Group (6.32 million units) hold the first and second positions, while the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance (5.49 million units), Hyundai Motor Group (5.05 million units), and Stellantis (5.04 million units) are competing for third place. Industry insiders expect the final third-place ranking to be determined by vehicle parts supply conditions, including semiconductors, in the fourth quarter.

An industry official stated, "While Hyundai Motor Group's models are sweeping major awards and continuously setting new sales records in North America and Europe, the group's ranking is rising, and mentions of Hyundai Motor Group in prominent automotive media have noticeably increased recently," adding, "The prevailing evaluation is that Hyundai has firmly entered the ranks of the global top tier."

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