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| Hyundai Motor America's new CEO David Zuchowski, right, listens to an employee from Hyundai Steel along with other officials during his visit to the automaker's steelmaking subsidiary's facility in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, Monday. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor |
By Kim Tae-jong
Hyundai Motor will be able to post record sales in the United States this year based on the popularity of its new luxury sedan, the head of the automaker's U.S. subsidiary said Monday.
David Zuchowski, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, is visiting Korea to discuss sales strategies with Korean executives and inspect factories here.
In a statement released by the firm, he expressed strong confidence in the successful launch of the new Genesis in the U.S market, slated for the first half of this year.
"The all-new Genesis was well-received at the Detroit Auto Show last year where it was unveiled before its official launch," Zuchowski was quoted as saying. "Visiting Hyundai's research facilities and inspecting the process to manufacture high-tension steel plates today made me confident again in the successful launch of new vehicles in the U.S. this year."
He visited Hyundai's research center in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province and Hyundai Steel's factory in Dangjin in South Chungcheong Province during his three-day trip to Korea from Feb. 2. It was the first time for him to visit the country since he became the new CEO of Hyundai's U.S. operation.
Zuchowski was accompanied by Robert Pradzinski, who was newly appointed as the vice president of U.S. sales for Hyundai on Jan. 27.
Zuchowski also said new vehicles that will soon be launched in the U.S., including the all-new Genesis and the new Sonata, will help the company reach the sales goal of 745,000 this year and boost brand awareness in the U.S.
After their visit to the automaker's facilities in the morning, the two new executives also met with Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo at the automaker's headquarters in Yangje-dong, southern Seoul.
Chung asked them to do their best to support the successful launch of the new Genesis in the U.S., while also promising the utmost support for the U.S. unit.
Zuchowski had long been Hyundai's U.S. sales chief since he joined the company in 2007. He became Hyundai America's sixth CEO on Jan. 1, replacing John Krafcik. It is known that dealers hailed his appointment, speaking highly of his experiences, at an important time as the company's U.S. sales growth has slowed.
Last year, the U.S. operation sold a total of 720,783, up 2.5 percent from the previous year, maintaining a sales growth in five consecutive years. The annual sales of the Avante compact surpassed the 200,000 mark for the first time, and the Santa Fe SUV's sales jumped by 25 percent to 89,000 last year.
But its share of the U.S. market has slipped to 4.6 percent from 4.9 percent in 2012. The brand's U.S. market share peaked at 5.1 percent in 2011, up from 3 percent in 2008.
Upon his appointment, Zuchowski had pledged to boost the brand's U.S. market share back to 5 percent within the next few years through steady, modest growth.
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