Hyundai Motor celebrates 40 years of export growth

Hyundai Motor is celebrating 40 years of exports to international markets, following a period of significant overseas growth that has seen it become one of the fastest growing brands in the world. From South Korea’s first mass-produced model to the latest generation of eco-friendly cars, more than 23 million Hyundai Motor vehicles have been exported worldwide since 1976.

The company’s pioneering Pony four-door sedan was initially exported to South America, with 1,042 vehicles delivered to 13 countries. Four decades later, Hyundai Motor now exports more than 1.15 million vehicles a year from its Korean manufacturing plants alone, shipping to 184 countries – around 3,150 vehicles daily, three times the first year’s total exports.

Building on its international export success, Hyundai Motor is now the sixth-largest automotive brand in the world and the 35th biggest brand overall globally, according to the latest rankings by Interbrand. Despite yet another challenging year for the auto industry, the company’s global brand value grew 11% since 2015, reaching $12.6bn in 2016, securing the Korean company’s place among the biggest brands on the planet. All export figures reported in this news release are based on domestically produced (Korean) units only.