02-27-2025
Hyundai's New Horizon: Jose Muñoz Named 2025 MotorTrend Person of the Year • - First non-Korean leader of Hyundai Motor Group- Ranked 15th last year, now recognized for monumental contributionsJose Muñoz has transformed Hyundai, steering the automaker through unprecedented growth with record sales, increased market share, and remarkable profitability in North America.A Distinguished Background- Spanish native with U.S. citizenship- Holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and an Executive MBA- Spent 15 years at Nissan, where he was poised to become CEO before Carlos Ghosn's oustingMuñoz joined Hyundai in 2019, and his elevated responsibilities will encompass global operations starting in 2025.Milestones and Growth- Joined the board in 2023; will rise to president and CEO in 2025- Hyundai's journey began in 1986 with the Excel, evolving from a value-centric brand to luxury offerings through the Genesis brand- Recent accolades include the Genesis GV70 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 winning the MotorTrend SUV of the Year titlesSales Surge- North American sales reached 801,200 units in 2023, with a projected 836,802 for 2024- Global sales expected to hit 7.23 million vehicles in 2024- New models and expanded production capacity are in progress, including a significant new plant in GeorgiaEV Strategy and Future Plans- Hyundai has invested $12.6 billion in upcoming electric vehicle operations- It is set to become the second-largest electric vehicle automaker in the U.S. by 2024, despite facing challenges with tax credits- Ambitious goal: 21 EV models by 2030, plus a significant increase in hybrid offeringsMuñoz's leadership ensures Hyundai moves forward in diverse mobility solutions, from electric vehicles to emerging technologies like flying taxis.