• New Hyundai flagship honoured by leading Middle East car magazine, Automobile

Hyundai Motor Company’s new flagship model, the New 2014 Centennial has been named Best Luxury Full-Sized Car of 2013 by top Middle East motoring magazine, Automobile. Vice President and Head of Hyundai’s Middle East regional Headquarters, Tom Lee was presented with the award by Mr.Ibrahim Fakhri, General Manager and Editor-In-Chief of Automobile magazine.

Mr Lee commented “Receiving this award just a few months after the New 2014 Centennial’s launch is a great honour. The outgoing model won 2012 Car of the Year from Sport Auto magazine, so it’s nice to enioy yet more recognition for our luxury segment model from Middle East automotive experts. It’s a true testament to how far we have come as an automotive company that we now produce cars that meet and exceed the very highest quality standards.”

The New 2014 Centennial was launched in the Middle East earlier this year and is even better placed to challenge the established names in the luxury car sector than ever before, with a significantly enhanced interior, the addition of a range of cutting-edge features, and the introduction of two new, high performance GDI engines.

The previous version of Hyundai’s flagship car had already enjoyed significant success in the Middle East, where sales grew 244% in 2012, and across the world. In North America, research conducted earlier this year by influential automotive industry forecaster, ALG, confirmed that the Centennial enjoys stronger residual values than its key competitors, the BMW 7-Series, the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the Audi A8.

The New 2014 Centennial exudes quality, with high class leather and wood trim all around the cabin. The dashboard has been totally redesigned as have the rear seats, which now offer even greater comfort. Passengers in the back can enjoy new dual 9.2inch LCD rear monitor entertainment screens and control their travel experience via a new DIS system. To ensure the highest standards of comfort, the electronically-controlled multi-link suspension has been fine-tuned, while an air suspension option is also available.

For the first time, the New 2014 Centennial is equipped with Hyundai’s acclaimed GDi engines. The top-of-the-range powerplant is the award-winning TAU V8 5.0-litre GDi unit, which delivers maximum power of 430ps, a top speed of 240kph and 0 to 100kph in 5.8 seconds. A 334ps Lambda V6 3.8-litre GDi engine is also available and both units are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai has made available a number of the latest features on its flagship model for the first time. For improved safety, a Head-Up Display, projects speed and navigation information on the windscreen, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road, while a Blind Spot Detection system alerts the driver of any vehicles or objects that are in the car’s blind spots.

A smartphone touchscreen-style user experience is provided by the innovative Haptic Steering Wheel, while an All Around View Monitor utilizes small front, side and rear-mounted cameras to project a 360° view of the area surrounding the vehicle onto the driver’s information screen, making parking easier.

Mr. Fakhri commented: “The advances that Hyundai has made with the Centennial are astonishing. It has clearly taken Hyundai’s luxury segment contender to another level and proved it can more than compete with big names in the luxury car market. It was an easy decision to give the Centennial the award after driving the car and experiencing what it has to offer first-hand.”

Automobile is one of the region’s most respected motoring magazines and has a circulation that spans the whole of the Middle East and parts of Africa. The magazine was founded in 1994 and is based out of Lebanon. General Manager and Editor-In-Chief, Ibrahim Fakhri is one of the region’s most highly respected motoring journalists.

• New Generation i30 the one millionth car produced by award-winning plant
• More than 10.000 manufacturing-related jobs created by facility
• Hyundai orders €1,3 billion-worth of parts from European suppliers annually

Offenbach, 16 May 2013

On 16 May 2013, a New Generation i30 became the one millionth car to be produced at Hyundai’s award-winning manufacturing facility in Nošovice, Czech Republic. Production started at the plant on 3 November 2008, with an original i30 model being the first car to emerge from the line.

Hyundai has invested €1,2 billion in its Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC) factory, where mass production commenced in November 2008, and 15.500 vehicles were made by the end of the following month. A second shift was added in September 2009 to meet rising demand for Hyundai’s ‘made for Europe’ models and, by 2010, annual production had reached 200.000 units. As consumer demand continued to increase, a third shift was introduced in 2011, and the facility made 300.000 cars during 2012.

HMMC has annual turnover of €3,2 billion and pays combined annual salaries of almost €47 million. Almost 3.500 people are directly employed at the plant, with a further 7.000 employed at supplier companies. The plant contributes significantly to the €1,3 billion of parts ordered from within Europe by Hyundai each year.

Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO at Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “Since 2008, we have developed our business to become a truly ‘European’ brand. Our Czech plant is at the heart of our European success, producing the two best-selling Hyundai models in the region and making one car every minute. It’s cars such as New ix35 and New Generation i30 that have helped us achieve a record-high European market share of 3,5% in 2012.”

As output has grown at HMMC, it has played an ever-greater role in securing the Czech Republic’s position as the world’s second-largest producer of cars per capita. It is the only car factory to have been awarded the country’s prestigious ‘National Award for Quality’, reflecting how closely the plant works with its suppliers to ensure the highest standards of quality. Three principal suppliers are located directly on the factory ground, reducing road traffic by 200 trucks each day, while another 15 principal suppliers are located in the Czech Republic, where 62% of the parts by value are produced for the New Generation i30.

The Nošovice plant produces the Hyundai ix20 MPV, New ix35 compact SUV and New Generation i30. As well as being manufactured in Europe, each model has also been designed and developed for the European market at Hyundai’s European Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

• Photovoltaic power plant to reduce carbon emissions, ease nation’s power supplies
• Project aligns with Hyundai’s vision of widespread expansion of renewable energy, company’s eco-friendly goals

May 8, 2013 – Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker, announced that it will install the nation’s largest rooftop photovoltaic power plant at its manufacturing factory in Asan, Korea, to expand the use of renewable energy and take measures to help reduce global warming.

Hyundai’s Asan plant will host the power plant, while Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) will purchase the electricity produced by the solar modules and sell it to areas near the plant, including Asan city. Working with Korea Midland Power Co., Ltd. (KOMIPO), a thermal power company, Hyundai plans to install about 40,000 solar photovoltaic modules on the rooftops of Asan’s press, welding, assembly and engine buildings by the end of this year.

The 213,000 square meter area to be equipped with the modules accounts for as much as 68 percent of the total roof space, and the peak capacity of the combined modules reaches 10 MW. With such capacity, the completed plant will be capable of supplying up to 11.5 million KWh of electricity per year, or provide a stable supply of electricity for up to 3,200 households.

As 100 percent of the photovoltaic plant at Asan will be built on existing rooftops, the construction neither requires any additional land nor causes environmental issues. The choice of the Asan plant is appropriate, as Asan manufactures the eco-friendly Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, as well as Sonata and Grandeur (Azera in some markets).

To produce the same amount of electricity – 11.5 million KWh - a thermoelectric power plant releases 5,600 tons of carbon dioxide, emission that can be prevented by the use of the photovoltaic power plant. The reduction of 5,600 tons of carbon dioxide emissions is equivalent to the effect of planting 1.12 million pine trees on the environment.

Moreover, sprinklers that work to cool down the solar modules will also help the plant save energy by lowering the indoor temperature during hot seasons.

(Seoul, Korea) Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest automaker, reports its domestic and overseas sales results for April 2013.

April 2013 Results

Unit = one vehicle

1. Commercial Vehicles (CV) include buses & trucks.
2. Hyundai Motor currently has seven overseas plants in Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, India, Russia, Turkey and the U.S.

※ Excludes CKD (Complete Knock Down) unit sales.

• Sales revenue rises 6.0% on continuing sales growth in overseas markets
• Hyundai to keep focusing on qualitative growth

Apr. 25, 2013 – Hyundai Motor Company today announced 2013 first-quarter earning results. Despite various unfavorable internal and external factors, its continued sales growth overseas led to a 6.0 percent increase in sales revenue, compared to the same period last year.

For the first three months of 2013, sales revenue rose 6.0 percent to 21.37 trillion won (auto: 17.66 trillion / finance and others: 3.70 trillion) from a year earlier, thanks to strong sales outside Korea and the addition of a subsidiary, Hyundai KEFICO. However, operating profit and net profit fell 10.7 percent and 14.9 percent to 1.87 trillion won and 2.88 trillion won (including non-controlling interest), respectively, mainly because of increased costs due to a weaker currency and increased one-time provisions.

Hyundai sold 1,171,804 units globally (Korea: 153,728 / overseas: 1,018,076) during the first quarter this year, a 9.2 percent increase from a year earlier. While its sales in Korea fell 0.7 percent from the same period a year ago, its overseas sales rose 10.9 percent to 1,018,076 units, offsetting the decline in the domestic market.

Hyundai’s production volume at its Korean plants declined during the first quarter due to some production stoppages on weekends, which increased fixed costs. However, once this issue is resolved, coupled together with a more stable outlook on currency exchange rates and Hyundai’s ongoing robust sales in overseas markets such as China and Brazil, the company’s earnings are forecast to improve going forward.

Hyundai forecasts that major auto markets, including some emerging markets, will keep posting slower growth amid fiercer competition and uncertain business environments. Nevertheless, Hyundai aims to strengthen its fundamentals through qualitative growth and quality management. To do so, Hyundai plans to launch local strategic models, reinforce sales and service networks, as well as carry out aggressive marketing activities.

Such efforts have already been in progress, posting significant results. The HB20, which rolled off Hyundai’s new Brazilian plant since October last year, won five major local awards including the 2013 Brazilian Car of the Year. By strengthening its dealer network, Hyundai’s market shares in European and Indian markets are on the rise. In the U.S., cumulative sales of the Elantra exceeded 2 million units since it launched in the market in 1991, due to differentiated marketing strategies based on enhanced quality.

Cautionary Statement with Respect to Forward-Looking Statements

In this release and in related comments by Hyundai Motor’s management, our use of the word “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “objective,” “plan,” “goal,” “outlook,” “target,” “pursue” and similar expressions is intended to identify forward looking statements.

The financial data discussed herein are presented on a preliminary basis before the audit from Independent Auditor; final data will be included in HMC’s Independent auditors report. While these statements represent our current judgment on what the future may hold, and we believe these judgments are reasonable, actual results may differ materially due to numerous important factors. Such factors include, among others, the following : change in economic conditions, currency exchange rates or political stability; shortages of fuel, labor strikes or work stoppages; market acceptance of the corporation’s new products; significant changes in the competitive environment; changes in laws, regulations and tax rates; and the ability of the corporation to achieve reductions in cost and employment levels to realize production efficiencies and implement capital expenditures at levels and time planned by management.

We do not intend or assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, which speaks only as of the date on which it is made.