Hyundai’s success story: key models and brand values
Hyundai
South Korean company “Hyundai Construction” founded “Hyundai Motor” in 1967. In 1968, Hyundai, initially known as a shipbuilding and design-engineering company in various civil construction sectors, began producing automobiles.
In its early years, the company produced cars under foreign licenses. However, thanks to the fruitful work of its engineers, in 1985 the model “Hyundai-Pony 1.3” appeared. Targeted at the middle class, it quickly became a success in the domestic Korean market.
By the mid-1980s, Hyundai had successfully established itself in export markets such as Canada and the USA. Several models were adapted for export, and the development of compact cars continued.
In 1988, the world saw the debut of the “Hyundai Sonata”. The “Lantra” model appeared on the European market in 1990. Its elegant second generation was released five years later, followed by the five-door, five-seat station wagon “Hyundai Lantra Wagon”.
But it was only in 1992 that the global audience got a glimpse of Hyundai’s future, when the first concept car “HCD-I” was introduced. It started the tradition of producing original concept cars, including the HCD series.
The sports coupe “Hyundai HCD-II”, presented in 1992, was produced in a limited batch. In 1994, Hyundai introduced a new generation of compact cars under the name “Accent”. In 1996, the sports coupe “Hyundai Coupe” and the small city car “Hyundai Atoz” were introduced. In 1998, the upgraded SUV “Hyundai Galloper II” appeared, later replaced by the “Terracan”.
The year 1999 was one of active and fruitful work for Hyundai Motor. Following the success of the “EF Sonata” and “XG HMC”, four more models were launched: “Centennial”, “Accent”, the renewed “Coupe”, and the minivan “Trajet”. The luxury model “Dynasty” was modernized. The flagship “Hyundai Equus” appeared alongside the “Mitsubishi Proudia”. The model later became known as “Hyundai Prime”. At the end of that year, the “Coupe” was seriously upgraded. Other highlights of 1999 included the release of the SUV “Santa Fe” and the premiere of the European “Accent”.
In 2000, the third-generation “Elantra” family was introduced.
In 2002, Hyundai Motor became the official automotive sponsor of the FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan.
Today, Hyundai is a South Korean company specializing in passenger cars. All its models meet the strictest European and American safety standards. They come well-equipped—for example, with xenon headlights, which produce twice as much light as modern H7 lamps while consuming one-third less energy. Xenon light is also more comfortable for the human eye.