Hyundai Motor Wins 19 iF Design Awards in Multiple Categories, Scoring ‘Gold’ for IONIQ 6 EV in Product Group

May 2, 2023 | Business

Hyundai Motor Company, its Marketing unit and Hyundai Motor Group won a combined 19 prizes, including a Gold honor, at the prestigious International Forum (iF) Design Award 2023 in the Product, Professional Concept, Interior Architecture, Communication, User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) categories.

Hyundai Motors acclaimed IONIQ 6 battery electric vehicle (BEV) topped the list with a Gold award in the Product category. Its aerodynamic designreflects the brands customer-centric commitment to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. The electrified streamliner has won several other awards since its launch, including the prestigious World Car of the Year, World Electric Vehicle and World Car Design of the Year at the New York International Auto Show.

In a statement, the iF Design Award jury praised IONIQ 6 for a fresh and unique exterior aesthetic with subtle motifs that are carried over into a serene and relaxing interior. Its overall design identity is based on deep commitments to comfort, style, efficiency and environmental responsibility.

Also in the Product category, the jury honored Hyundai Grandeur(badged as Azera in markets outside Korea). The seventh-generation flagship sedan is noted for building on the brands design heritage while setting a course for the future of mobility with innovative styling cues and high-tech details, such as its Seamless Horizon Lamp and premium interior with sustainable material applications. Notably, Grandeur also collected a Red Dot Award this week.

The jury also recognized Hyundai Motors IONIQ lifestyle character items in the Product category for connecting the brand to the customers daily life. The company took IONIQs Parametric Pixel design language beyond vehicle applications and applied them to character products, showing the possibility of user interaction inside and outside the vehicle.

In the Professional Concept category, Hyundai Motors N Vision 74 rolling lab project earned an iF Design Award for its retro-futuristic design and innovative hydrogen-hybrid high-performance concept. Following its sensational digital debut last July, the 2022 TopGear.com Awards named the car an Instant Icon.

Hyundai Motors indoor/outdoor delivery service robot also made the winners list in the Professional Concept category. The service robot is equipped with Hyundai Motors innovative Plug & Drive (PnD) module that combines an in-wheel motor, steering, suspension, brake system and environmental sensors into one. The robot is already demonstrating its capabilities in pilot programs in Korea.

Also in the Professional Concept category, the jury recognized Hyundai Motors autonomous driving Roun robo-mobility solution that is designed to provide a better mobility experience for a variety of passengers, especially those with special needs.

Several other Hyundai Motor robotics-based mobility solutions, including MobED, PnD L7 and PnD Mobility, were honored in the Professional Concept category. All of these devices reflect the companys mission to expand human reach and to radically challenge prevalent ideas about mobility.

In the UI category, the jury tapped Hyundai Motors new connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) Seon infotainment system, which was first applied to the all-new Grandeur. The design of the next-generation system features a horizon line and simple, flat graphic components that harmonize with the vehicles overall user interface, creating a graphic design that is distinctive to Hyundai.

In the Interior Architecture category, the jury lauded Hyundai Marketings 2022 CES Exhibition Booth where the companys robotics-based mobility devices were first displayed. The booth introduced its idea of meta-mobility, through an immersive experience showcasing how the real and virtual world can merge into one metaverse.

In the Communication category, Hyundais Marketing arm took home trophies for creative efforts related to the launch of IONIQ 6, including the 3D design unveil film that appeared on digital billboards anda narrative film for the world premiere. It also won for the IONIQ 5 Robotaxi video that is part of a global campaign to familiarize customers with Hyundais autonomous driving technology.

In the Communication and UX categories, iF Design Award honored Hyundai Marketings extended reality (XR) content for the online IONIQ 6 Digital Studio, wherein the brand realized a immersive user experience, promoting an EV that can be personalized to suit each customers taste.

Last but not least, the jury also lauded Hyundai Motor Groups corporate website (hyundai.co.kr) in the Communication, UX and UI categories for its innovative design that breaks away from traditional corporate design to allow users to seek out content in a social media-like experience.

This is the ninth year in a row that iF Design Award has celebrated Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Motor Group in various disciplines.

We are honored to be recognized as a lifestyle mobility brand that forges strong emotional connections between people and vehicles by bringing more value to our customers everyday life, said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Center. Our global design team has worked hand-in-hand with our engineers to inject passion and knowledge into every product, concept, venue and interface with the aim of sharing our brands values.

iF Design Award is one of the three major international design awards, along with the Red Dot Award from Germany and International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) from the U.S. It celebrates winners in nine disciplines, including Product, Communication, Packaging, Service Design, Architecture, Interior Architecture, User Experience (UX), User Interface (UI) and Professional Concepts, in 80 categories. All award-winners are shown on www.ifdesign.com and published in the iF Design App.

iF International Forum Design GmbH, one of the worlds leading independent design institutions, founded the competition in Hanover in 1954. iF Design Award Night 2023, the Awards ceremony, is scheduled to take place on May 15, at the Friedrichstadt-Palast, Berlin.

About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision Progress for Humanity, Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions, while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero emission vehicles equipped with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.

More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at:http://worldwide.hyundai.com or http://globalpr.hyundai.com

Honda Motor Co-founder Takeo Fujisawa to be Inducted into Automotive Hall of Fame

Feb 14, 2023 | Business

Takeo Fujisawa, co-founder of the Honda Motor Co., Ltd., will be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame at its awards ceremony at The Fillmore Detroit on July 20. Fujisawa will join Honda founder Soichiro Honda, who was inducted in 1989 as the first Japanese automotive executive honored by the Automotive Hall of Fame, located in Dearborn, Michigan.

Born on November 10, 1910, Fujisawa originally aspired to become a teacher, but instead worked as a salesman for a steel products company and then for a lumber company when he met Soichiro Honda in August 1949, about one year after the founding of Honda Motor Co., a small local venture in Hamamatsu, Japan. It was the right after the launch of the Dream D-Type, considered to be Honda’s first full-fledged motorcycle product. While the two men were equipped with different personalities and skill sets, Honda and Fujisawa hit it off almost immediately and began deep discussions about their approach to business and dreams for the future.

Quickly developing a trusting relationship, they established a shared vision for the future of the company with Fujisawa joining Honda Motor in October 1949. As a president of the company, Honda retained responsibility for product design and technology development and manufacturing operations, inventing many innovative vehicles including Super Cub, the world’s best-selling mobility product. Fujisawa backed him up as his right hand with responsibility for the business side of the company, including sales, finance and marketing.

Fujisawa’s marketing savvy, strong business sense, and keen ability to chart unique paths to growth proved the perfect match to Soichiro Honda’s engineering acumen and vision for mobility. The partnership lasted 25 years, until March 1973 when Messrs. Honda and Fujisawa retired together. From the beginning, Fujisawa had an enormous impact on Honda’s business globally and in the U.S., where he played the key role in the approach to the American market.

Fujisawa made several lasting and impactful business decisions that are still relevant today:

Starting Honda Business in the U.S.

In 1959, and by then the senior managing director of Honda, Fujisawa made the challenging decision to establish American Honda as Honda’s first subsidiary outside Japan. At the time, the entire U.S. motorcycle industry sold no more than 60,000 units annually — mostly larger bikes. One member of the team recommended expansion in Asia, where small motorcycles from Europe, like those made by Honda, were already in use. He suggested that America, the “land of the automobile,” was too difficult a target for Honda. Fujisawa had another idea. “On second thought, let’s do America,” he said. “To succeed in the U.S. is to succeed worldwide. To take up the challenge of the American market may be the most difficult thing to do, but it’s a critical step in expanding the export of our products.” Without Fujisawa’s leadership, Honda would not be the success story in the United States that it is today.

Creating Independent U.S. Dealer Network

Fujisawa adopted many innovative sales and marketing strategies in Japan and the U.S. This included the decision to start motorcycle sales by establishing Honda’s own dealer network. Despite suggestions that Honda should follow the approach of other Japanese companies and rely on a trading company to launch U.S. sales, Honda forged relationships with many smaller dealers, even those with no history in the motorcycle industry, and successfully expanded business from the West Coast across America. By the mid-1960s, Honda was the best-selling motorcycle brand in America.

Establishing Separate R&D Company

In 1960, based on Fujisawa’s initiative, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. was created as a separate company. Fujisawa conceived the idea with two objectives: to give Honda engineers the freedom to create new value without being constrained by the ups and downs of daily business and to protect Honda’s ability to sustain this innovation in the future when they could no longer rely on the genius of Soichiro Honda. The new R&D company ushered in an era of incredible technological and product innovation, and entering new business areas including the automobile and aviation industries. Honda R&D’s focus on research and creating new value in mobility continues to this day.

More information about Takeo Fujisawa will be provided at the time of his formal induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame in July 2023.


Topic: Press release summary

Hyundai Motor Group Donates $2 million to Aid T�rkiye’s Earthquake Relief Efforts

Feb 11, 2023 | Business

– The Group will make the donation to the Korean Red Cross

– Hyundai Assan Otomotive Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., the Groups auto making affiliate in Trkiye, separately donated EUR 500,000-worth of rescue equipment to monetary support for relief efforts

SEOUL – WEBWIRE –

Hyundai Motor Group is providing donations totaling USD 2 million to be used for the relief efforts in Trkiye and Syria.

Under Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, and Hyundai Mobis are all contributing to the donations, which will be made through the Korean Red Cross and used for local relief activities and damage recovery.

In addition to the donation, Hyundai Motors local subsidiary, Hyundai Assan Otomotiv Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., the Groups automaking affiliate in Trkiye, had earlier extended emergency support, providing EUR 500,000-worth of casualty relief equipment, including cutters and grinders, and daily necessities such as food, sanitary goods and cold weather supplies.

About Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor Group is a global enterprise that has created a value chain based on mobility, steel, and construction, as well as logistics, finance, IT, and service. With about 250,000 employees worldwide, the Groups mobility brands include Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. Armed with creative thinking, cooperative communication and the will to take on any challenges, we strive to create a better future for all.

More information about Hyundai Motor Group, please see: www.hyundaimotorgroup.com

Press Release Information Accuracy DisclaimerInformation posted in press releases on the Kia Media website was accurate at the time of posting but may be superseded by subsequent releases or other information.

GAC Motor Introduces Empow and All New GS8 to the Philippines

Jan 23, 2023 | Business

WEBWIRE –

On January 18, GAC MOTOR released two highly-anticipated models – the EMPOW and the ALL NEW GS8 – in the Philippines.

The launch event drew interest from top media outlets and content creators, who had the opportunity to experience the exceptional features of GAC MOTOR vehicles first-hand.

The launch of EMPOW, a sporty sedan, and ALL NEW GS8, a luxury SUV, complete an extensive list of proven performers in the country, including the GS3 subcompact crossover, the mid-size GS4, and the GN6, a 7-seater MPV.

As the first smart sedan in the GAC range to feature GPMA architecture, EMPOW is designed for young buyers, with the genes of a sports car backed by strong value for money.

Featuring a lightweight design with futuristic lines and a striking, oversized front grille, the model has a distinctly sporty appearance, which is continued on the interior with bright supercar-style leather panels. Equipped with a 1.5L engine powered by GAC MOTORs MegaWave technology, the EMPOW consumes just 5.7L of fuel per 100km.

The ALL NEW GS8, the car body carries a robust, bold style, capturing the models signature power look with Eye of the Conqueror LED headlamps and double chrome exhaust pipes in the rear. With up to 18 advanced-driver assistance system features and cutting-edge AR-HUD technology, ALL NEW GS8 ensures an effortless and safe driving experience.

The launch event also saw GAC MOTOR announcing plans to open a new showroom and service facilities to further expand its network across the Philippines.

GAC MOTOR was first introduced to the market in November 2018 and has since grown to become a highly regarded brand, with a reputation based on superior quality and craftsmanship, innovative safety and technology features, and exceptional services.

At the core of our brand DNA is a strong commitment to quality, said Jun Cajayon, the new brand head for GAC MOTOR Philippines. The EMPOW and ALL NEW GS8 reflect the new caliber of GAC MOTORs global vehicles, which we are confident will attract new customers and inspire renewed confidence in the brand.

Launching the two models in the Philippines is a key step in GAC MOTORs strategy to build a world-class brand with international influence. The brand will continue to roll out high-quality and innovative models that provide excellent value for money for customers in the Philippines and beyond.

Hyundai Motor Wins GOOD DESIGN Awards for SEVEN and Trailer Drone Concepts, PnD and MobED Robotics

Jan 11, 2023 | Business

– The five awards in GOOD DESIGNs transportation and robotics categories recognize Hyundai Motors design excellence across a variety of mobility solutions

– The various mobilities reflect Hyundais commitment to adding value to customers lives and the companys transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider

SEOUL – WEBWIRE –

Hyundai Motor Company today announced that its SEVEN and Trailer Drone concepts have earned 2022 GOOD DESIGN Awards in the transportation category while Plug & Drive (PnD) Mobility, PnD L7 and Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED) have each earned awards in the robotics category.

Hyundai Design strives to forge strong connections between our customers andour mobility solutions, said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Center.
The awards recognize how we add more value to our customers everyday lives within and beyond the automotive space. Our design dream team and engineers put their passion and heart into these projects to make our dreams closer to reality.

Following the 45 concept in 2019 and the Prophecy concept in 2020, theSEVEN conceptopened a new chapter for the IONIQ full-electric lineup brand when it was unveiled in 2021. It is also the perfect example of IONIQ as its space innovations and hygienic features transform the SUV into an innovative living space on wheels, demonstrating Hyundais prioritization of customer values over industry norms.

TheTrailer Drone conceptis a hydrogen-powered container transportation system capable of operating fully autonomously with a double e-Bogie configuration, allowing for unprecedented maneuverability through sideways movement in an almost train-like arrangement.

Hyundai Motor was also recognized for its excellence in design in the robotics sector by winning three awards in the robotics category.

Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving, erase the boundaries between automobiles and robots.PnD (Plug & Drive) Mobilitywas developed under the motto, Expanding Human Reach to realize the vision of limitless freedom in mobility. The PnD robotic module combines intelligent steering, braking, in-wheel electric drive and suspension hardware that can be scaled up or down, for any purpose, size or application.

PnD L7is also a groundbreaking future robotics-based mobility solution. It sets itself apart from other ground-based vehicles, featuring more intuitive operation using the joystick and a smoother, freer and more efficient driving experience. PnD L7 requires minimal space for moving and parking, making it suitable for urban applications. Plus, its design was inspired by the first LRV (Lunar Roving Vehicle), a battery-powered four-wheeled lunar rover used in American Apollo missions. Just as LRV expanded the scope of human exploration, PnD L7 expands the scope of human mobility.

MobEDis a novel, compact mobile platform that consists of four Drive & Lift (DnL) modules, which combines driving, steering, posture control and braking systems into a single structure. MobEDs minimalistic design emphasizes its unique mechanism. Pixel lighting on all sides of its body communicates MobEDs state, including its driving direction.

These award-winning products reaffirm Hyundais transformation from automaker to Smart Mobility Solution Provider, in line with the company vision of Progress for Humanity.

Celebrating its 72nd anniversary, the GOOD DESIGN Awards program is one of the longest-running design competitions in the world. Every year, the program selects a list of the best of the best product designs and graphics that have chartered new directions for innovation and pushed the envelope for competitive products in the world marketplace. For more information about the GOOD DESIGN Awards, please visit the official website: https://www.good-designawards.com/

About Hyundai Motor Company
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision Progress for Humanity, Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions, while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero emission vehicles equipped with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.