Hyundai Motor sweeps six wins at awards in N. America and Europe

Hyundai Motor Group strengthened its standing as a global top tier automotive manufacturer, with its new cars winning six trophies and named as the car of the year by major motor trend magazines and organizations in the North American and European regions. The South Korean car company is winning accolades as it brand value grows and its global sales are gaining momentum.

Hyundai Motor Group announced on Wednesday that it has swept six wins with its brands named as the Car of the Year in the 10 most influential global automotive awards, where Ford Motor Company has won twice, Volkswagen and Toyota have grabbed one win each. By winning six out of eight awards, except in “What Car?” and “Car and Driver,” which produces their lists of the best vehicles of the year by category instead of publishing the top winner, Hyundai Motor has practically dominated all major global automotive awards.

The Elantra (Korean name ‘Avante’) was named winner of the 2021 North American Car of the Year; the Genesis GV80 won the 2021 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year; and the Ioniq 5 won two Car of the Year awards in Germany and a motoring magazine Auto Express. The GV70 and the i20 N were named as the Car of the Year by Motor Trend and Top Gear, respectively. In a press release, Hyundai Motor stated it is very encouraging that Top Gear, which has rarely recognized automobiles made in Asian countries, named Hyundai cars as its top pick. In early 2000s, Top Gear criticized Hyundai car as a “refrigerator on wheels.”

With winning prestigious awards, Hyundai Motor Group’s global sales are also soaring. The South Korean automotive group accounts for 9% of the U.S. auto market as of November 2021. If the trend continues, the South Korean automaker will outclass Honda for the first time in terms of the annual market share and land at No. 5. During the first 10 months of this year, the combined market share of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors stood at 8.6% in Europe, landing at No. 4, ahead of BMW and Honda.


Dong-Jin Shin shine@donga.com