History of Hyundai

In 1967, the South Korean automobile company Hyundai was founded, which during the first years of its existence was engaged in the production of three passenger cars and one truck model of the American Ford brand under license. However, after a successful entry into the automotive market, when the country needed cheap and reliable cars, Hyundai began to create its own car model, which was introduced in 1974.

Thanks to lucrative contracts with the Japanese company Mitsubishi for the supply of engines and the Italian design studio Italdesign, which was responsible for the appearance of the car, the first model of the company, called the Pony, turned out to be quite inexpensive. So, already in 1975, deliveries of the car, which was conceived as a product for the domestic automotive market of Korea, began in Africa, South America and the Middle East.

By 1985, Hyundai became the largest car dealer in South Korea, outselling automakers such as Ford and Mitsubishi, which led to the start of sales of inexpensive Korean cars in Canada. And in 1986 the company enters the automobile market of the United States of America, the consequences of the fuel crisis are still being felt and fuel-efficient cars are still very popular.

In 1988, Hyundai launched a mid-size D class sedan called the Sonata. In addition, the car became the first model of the Korean company, which had a whole range of power units developed jointly with Mitsubishi, with a volume of 1.8 to 3 liters and a power of 70-107 horsepower. Two years later, the Lantra compact sedan was introduced, which was created for the US market.

In 1991, the first Hyundai engines were presented, which were independently developed by the company’s engineers, refusing to use joint technologies with Mitsubishi. At the same time, two new models come out at once – the first of them is the Accent, a subcompact class C sedan or hatchback, which was equipped with 1.3 and 1.5-liter engines with a capacity of 60 and 99 horsepower. The main difference between the model was the presence of an air conditioner in the basic configuration, which became a real revolution in the class of budget cars, as well as the ability to order an automatic gearbox. The second model was the Hyundai Galloper, which was the first generation Mitsubishi Pajero, and was no different from the Japanese twin.

1998 became the real foundation for even greater success for the company, after it was announced a merger with another Korean car brand, KIA, which led to the development of several new models at once. So in 1999, the Hyundai Target was introduced, which became the first minivan of the now largest South Korean concern Hyundai-KIA. In addition, a similar model appeared in a number of KIA cars. In the same year, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed with Daimler Chrysler, which allowed Hyundai to launch its new Santa Fe SUV, which was focused on sales in North America and Europe.

In 2002, the Hyundai Getz hatchback, class A, was introduced, which earned immense popularity in the automotive markets of developing countries, having existed until 2012.

In 1967, the South Korean automobile company Hyundai was founded, which during the first years of its existence was engaged in the production of three passenger cars and one truck model of the American Ford brand under license. However, after a successful entry into the automotive market, when the country needed cheap and reliable cars, Hyundai began to create its own car model, which was introduced in 1974.

Thanks to lucrative contracts with the Japanese company Mitsubishi for the supply of engines and the Italian design studio Italdesign, which was responsible for the appearance of the car, the first model of the company, called the Pony, turned out to be quite inexpensive. So, already in 1975, deliveries of the car, which was conceived as a product for the domestic automotive market of Korea, began in Africa, South America and the Middle East.

By 1985, Hyundai became the largest car dealer in South Korea, outselling automakers such as Ford and Mitsubishi, which led to the start of sales of inexpensive Korean cars in Canada. And in 1986 the company enters the automobile market of the United States of America, the consequences of the fuel crisis are still being felt and fuel-efficient cars are still very popular.

In 1988, Hyundai launched a mid-size D class sedan called the Sonata. In addition, the car became the first model of the Korean company, which had a whole range of power units developed jointly with Mitsubishi, with a volume of 1.8 to 3 liters and a power of 70-107 horsepower. Two years later, the Lantra compact sedan was introduced, which was created for the US market.

In 1991, the first Hyundai engines were presented, which were independently developed by the company’s engineers, refusing to use joint technologies with Mitsubishi. At the same time, two new models come out at once – the first of them is the Accent, a subcompact class C sedan or hatchback, which was equipped with 1.3 and 1.5-liter engines with a capacity of 60 and 99 horsepower. The main difference between the model was the presence of an air conditioner in the basic configuration, which became a real revolution in the class of budget cars, as well as the ability to order an automatic gearbox. The second model was the Hyundai Galloper, which was the first generation Mitsubishi Pajero, and was no different from the Japanese twin.

1998 became the real foundation for even greater success for the company, after it was announced a merger with another Korean car brand, KIA, which led to the development of several new models at once. So in 1999, the Hyundai Target was introduced, which became the first minivan of the now largest South Korean concern Hyundai-KIA. In addition, a similar model appeared in a number of KIA cars. In the same year, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed with Daimler Chrysler, which allowed Hyundai to launch its new Santa Fe SUV, which was focused on sales in North America and Europe.

In 2002, the Hyundai Getz hatchback, class A, was introduced, which earned immense popularity in the automotive markets of developing countries, having existed until 2012.