Chung Ju-Yung founded the Hyundai Engineering and Construction
Company in 1947. Hyundai Motor Company was later established in
1967. The company's first model the Cortina was released in
cooperation with Ford Motor Company in 1968.[8] When Hyundai wanted
to develop their own car they hired George Turnbull in February
1974 the former Managing Director of Austin Morris at British
Leyland. He in turn hired five other top British car engineers.
They were Kenneth Barnett body design engineers John Simpson and
Edward Chapman John Crosthwaite ex-BRM as chassis engineer and
Peter Slater as chief development engineer.[9][10][11][12] In 1975
the Pony the first South Korean car was released with styling by
Giorgio Giugiaro of ItalDesign and powertrain technology provided
by Japan's Mitsubishi Motors. Exports began in the following year
to Ecuador and soon thereafter to the Benelux countries. Hyundai
entered the British market in 1982 selling 2993 cars in their first
year there.[13]
In 1984 Hyundai began exporting the Pony to Canada but not to the United States as the Pony would not pass emissions standards there. Canadian sales greatly exceeded expectations and it was at one point the top-selling car on the Canadian market. In 1985 the one millionth Hyundai car was built.[14]
In 1986 Hyundai began to sell cars in the United States and the Excel was nominated as "Best Product #10" by Fortune magazine largely because of its affordability. The company began to produce models with its own technology in 1988 beginning with the midsize Sonata. In the spring of 1990 aggregate production of Hyundai automobiles reached the four million mark.[14] In 1991 the company succeeded in developing its first proprietary gasoline engine the four-cylinder Alpha and also its own transmission thus paving the way for technological independence.
In 1996 Hyundai Motor India Limited was established with a production plant in Irungattukottai near Chennai India.[15]
In 1984 Hyundai began exporting the Pony to Canada but not to the United States as the Pony would not pass emissions standards there. Canadian sales greatly exceeded expectations and it was at one point the top-selling car on the Canadian market. In 1985 the one millionth Hyundai car was built.[14]
In 1986 Hyundai began to sell cars in the United States and the Excel was nominated as "Best Product #10" by Fortune magazine largely because of its affordability. The company began to produce models with its own technology in 1988 beginning with the midsize Sonata. In the spring of 1990 aggregate production of Hyundai automobiles reached the four million mark.[14] In 1991 the company succeeded in developing its first proprietary gasoline engine the four-cylinder Alpha and also its own transmission thus paving the way for technological independence.
In 1996 Hyundai Motor India Limited was established with a production plant in Irungattukottai near Chennai India.[15]
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