Progress: The History Of Hyundai

Hyundai is a brand that many people trust for reliability, quality, and over 50 years of committed service to customers. From humble beginnings, the brand has built itself up to being one of the premier vehicle brands across the globe. We here at Hyundai of Auburn believe in the Hyundai brand and think a short history of its amazing progress might help you believe in the brand as much as we do. Here’s a history of the Hyundai vehicle brand, from its beginnings to its present successes.

The History of Hyundai

Car Auto 4WD by AaronPictures is licensed with Pixabay License

Hyundai has a rich history of progress, quality, and exceptional customer service that many of today’s brands just can’t match. When you think of quality, durability, and diversity in products, you probably think of Hyundai like we do. The brand initially formed in 1967, at the height of the Vietnam conflict when Southeast Asia was reeling from this conflict and the previous Korean War conflict. The brand originally focused on pioneering new vehicle technology and has maintained that philosophy to the present day.

The Beginning

In 1967, Hyundai Motors Company was formed in South Korea. This brand was headed up by Chung Ju-Yung, who actually formed another company called the Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company in 1947. The company at first focused on domestic sales, creating its first pioneering vehicle model in 1968. This vehicle, known as the Hyundai Cortina, which the company produced up until 1983. The company released the first Cortina alongside Ford Motors, cementing Hyundai in the general vehicle market as a brand to watch.

The 1970s and 1980s

As Hyundai kept producing vehicles, it began to pick up steam in international markets, too. The South Korean production facility, now today’s largest vehicle manufacturing facility, began exporting Hyundai vehicles in the 1970s, first exporting to Ecuador and then other countries like Canada. Hyundai’s vehicles failed to meet the emission standards of the United States in the 1980s, so the company focused on Canadian markets instead, where the Pony, a four-door hatchback, became the top-selling vehicle model in Canada in 1984. The next year, the company celebrated its 1 millionth vehicle from the main production facility.

The 1980s were a huge success for Hyundai, as the company began selling in the U.S. shortly after developing the Hyundai Excel, which met emission standards and soon became a top seller in the U.S. market. This success and introduction to a new market catapulted Hyundai into the national limelight, with the company winning several awards and accolades for its excellence in quality and performance. Fortune magazine nominated the Hyundai Excel as the number ten best product in the U.S. in 1986, proving that the brand was more than just an eager startup.

The 1990s

As Hyundai emerged as a successful company through the 1980s, the company focused itself on expanding its resources, technology, and production capabilities, opening another production facility in India in 1996. The company used the 1990s to really buckle down on its production investments, even adding a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty to all of its U.S. vehicles. This resulted in a targeted, long-term marketing campaign to help showcase Hyundai as a world-class brand in the U.S. market. During that time, Hyundai’s legendary founder transferred ownership of the company to his son, who shared the same vision of quality and consistency.

The 2010s

The years of 2000 to 2010 comprised a productive decade for the Hyundai vehicle brand, with many advances in vehicle technology and the overall success of the company’s marketing efforts and leadership changes in the late 1990s. The company opened the decade strong with a quality award from J.D. Power and Associates in 2004, proving that Hyundai could compete with the best of them. The company began sponsoring major sports events, ranking next to brands like Toyota, Ford, and Chevrolet, and became a staple in the U.S., Canadian, and Asian vehicle markets.

Another leadership change in 2006 proved an effective shift for the company, which began developing new models for the coming decade, including the Hyundai XG350, Hyundai Veracruz, and Hyundai Tiburon. Used Hyundai vehicles from this period continue to retain high resale value, and many of them are still on the road. The consistent quality of Hyundai means the company’s vehicles can get more mileage and experience fewer mechanical issues, all while keeping a low price point to adhere to any budgeting needs.

2010 to the Present Day

The company continued to produce high-quality vehicles throughout the next decade, with the Hyundai Sonata, Santa Fe, and Kona consistently rating as some of the company’s best contributions to the U.S. and Canadian markets. New vehicles come with one of the best warranties in the industry, amazing safety features, and pricing that competes with other top brands. In 2014, the company shifted its focus to building better, safer, and more durable chassis for its vehicles, hiring the renowned BMW Vice President of Engineering Albert Biermann.

Reasons To Consider a Hyundai Vehicle

If you’re thinking about getting a Hyundai, there are plenty of reasons to consider one. Aside from the incredible 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, Hyundai also offers an amazing warranty for hybrid and electric vehicles. With the recent tax incentives for owning electric vehicles, there’s never been a better time to consider the upgrade, and Hyundai continues to innovate the industry. We have an impressive inventory of electric and hybrid Hyundai vehicles, both new and used. Get America’s best warranty and unprecedented performance, power, and pricing with a Hyundai for every need.

When you’re ready to purchase your first or tenth Hyundai, visit us at 823 Opelika Road in Auburn. Contact us for appointment information at 334-321-0777, or schedule a visit with our convenient contact page. Our expert service and sales personnel can help you identify which model meets your needs and help get you the financing you need to drive off the lot the same day. We’re open Monday through Saturday, so come see us for an experience you won’t soon forget.