The company delivered its 100 millionth (plus one) vehicle to a new owner recently. The model was an Ioniq 5 EV, if you’re wondering. It has taken Hyundai 46 years to reach the halfway point in 2013 – it kicked off in 1967 – and just 11 more to hit the milestone.
Why the plus one? Hyundai says it shows the automaker’s “commitment to pushing one step further with its past accomplishments as the foundation”.
While Hyundai was founded in 1967, production actually kicked off in 1968 at its first manufacturing plant in Ulsan. The company describes it as the “birthplace of the development of the Korean automobile industry”.
Its first vehicle, and in fact the first mass-produced automobile in South Korea, was the Pony. Nowadays, the Ulsan plant can produce 1.6 million cars annually. And Hyundai has expanded beyond its shores, with plants in the Czech Republic, India, Turkey, and the United States. The company employs over 120,000 people.
Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai, commented: “Reaching global cumulative production of 100 million vehicles is a meaningful milestone that was possible thanks to our customers around the world who have chosen and supported Hyundai Motor since the very beginning.
“Taking on bold challenges and being in constant pursuit of innovation has enabled us to achieve rapid growth and will empower us to take ‘one step further’ toward another 100 million units as a mobility game changer.”
While Hyundai may not have an extensive history of performance or motorsport under its belt, with the exception of rallying, they’re now making some fun cars. The Ioniq 5 N is amongst the most exciting EVs available at present.
