Hyundai's Astonishing Achievement: 100 Million Cars and Counting

Hyundai Hits the 100 Million Mark

• Hyundai has reached a monumental milestone: the production of their 100 millionth car.
• To commemorate this achievement, Hyundai has gone above and beyond by delivering their 100 millionth and first vehicle directly to a customer.
• Surpassing the first 50 million cars took Hyundai 46 years, and astonishingly, it only took an additional 11 years to manufacture the second 50 million units.

In a momentous announcement on Sunday, Hyundai disclosed that they have built an impressive 100 million cars globally since their establishment in 1967. To celebrate this remarkable milestone, the company personally handed over their 100 millionth and first vehicle, the all-electric Ioniq 5, to its fortunate new owner.

A Small Yet Significant Distinction

Intriguingly, Hyundai chose to present the 100 millionth and first vehicle rather than simply the 100 millionth car itself. The decision stemmed from the automaker's desire to highlight their unwavering commitment to building upon their past successes, as stated in their Sunday press release.

Hyundai's Remarkable Journey

Although Hyundai was established in 1967, it wasn't until the following year that they inaugurated their inaugural manufacturing facility in Ulsan, South Korea. This plant is hailed as the birthplace of the Korean automobile industry and played a pivotal role in producing the country's first mass-produced automobile, the Pony. Presently, the Ulsan plant has the capacity to manufacture 1.6 million cars every year.

From their humble beginnings in the 1960s, Hyundai's growth has been nothing short of astounding. In the span of just 57 years, they have expanded their operations to include plants in the United States, India, Turkey, and the Czech Republic. In an incredible feat, it took Hyundai until 2013—nearly five decades—to reach the production of 50 million units. However, they managed to double that number in just 11 more years.

Hyundai's president and CEO, Jaehoon Chang, expressed his gratitude to their loyal customers worldwide, stating, "Reaching the remarkable milestone of global cumulative production of 100 million vehicles was made possible by our customers around the world, who have consistently chosen and supported Hyundai Motor since our inception. By taking bold leaps and continuously pursuing innovation, we achieved rapid growth and are now poised to go 'one step further' towards the next 100 million units as a pioneering force in mobility."

Although Hyundai may not have an extensive history in performance or motorsports, their rise to become an industry giant is undeniably admirable. They have even ventured into producing exhilarating cars, such as the remarkable Veloster N, their first true performance vehicle, and the thrilling Ioniq 5 N, which has quickly captured the imagination of EV enthusiasts worldwide.

Here's to the next 100 million cars and beyond!