Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo and other high-ranking officials presented the firm’s investment and R&D roadmaps for future mobility to a visiting U.S. congressional delegation, the Korean automotive giant said in a statement Monday.
The five-member delegation led by Sen. Deb Fischer visited the Namyang R&D Center of Hyundai Motor Group, the heart of the Korean auto giant’s new car design and development. Other members included Sen.Thad Cochran, Sen. John Barrasso, Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. and Rep. Diane Black.
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| Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo (right, front row) walks with U.S. Sen. Deb fischer to their luncheon venue at the Rolling Hills in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. Hyundai Motor Group |
The visit of U.S. Congress members to Hyundai was designed to raise their understanding of Korea’s auto industry and its transport infrastructure and culture. Hyundai Motor is the only Korean company on the delegation’s itinerary, the company added.
“At a luncheon with the delegates before the site visit, the group chairman briefly mentioned about the group’s investment direction for future mobility like self-driving and green cars,’’ a group spokesperson said.
“Both parties also exchanged their views on pending issues confronting the Korean and U.S. auto industries.’’
At Hyundai’s global R&D hub, located in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, the delegates were offered many experience programs, including a briefing by Hyundai’s design center, a car crash test, and a test-drive of Genesis EQ900 (G90 in the U.S. market) and Ioniq hybrid and electric, all-new K7, all of which will debut in the U.S. market in the latter part of this year or next year.
The U.S. market, in particular, is one of the most important strategic markets overseas for Hyundai’s level-up project. The Korean automaker has sought to advance into the global luxury car market since it launched its first luxury brand Genesis last December.
G90, the first model of Genesis, which was unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show in January, will start sales of G90 in its second biggest export market in the latter part of this year.
In contrast to falling sales in China, its biggest overseas market, sales of the automotive group hit a record high of 1,388,000 million units in the U.S. last year, a 6.2 percent increase from the previous year.
By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)
