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HYUNDAI

52 entries

South Korean carmaker founded in 1967, now the parent of Kia and Genesis within Hyundai Motor Group.

Founded: 1967, South Korea
Founder: Chung Ju-yung
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Group brands: Hyundai, Kia, Genesis

Hyundai Motor Company was founded in 1967 by Chung Ju-yung and his brother Chung Se-yung, and its first model, the Cortina, appeared in 1968 through a tie-up with Ford. The 1975 Pony, styled by Italdesign, was the first South Korean car.

Hyundai entered the United States in 1986 and bought a majority of Kia in 1998 after the Asian financial crisis. It runs the world's largest single integrated car plant, in Ulsan.

1947Chung Ju-yung founds Hyundai Engineering and Construction
1967Hyundai Motor Company founded
1975The Pony, the first South Korean car
1986Sales begin in the United States
1998Hyundai acquires a majority of Kia