Hyundai Motor vows to serve customers better

Hyundai Motor's Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun, left, and Lee Kew-song, co-chief executive of The Carlyle Group, chat at an event hosted by The Carlyle Group in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Hyundai Motor Group has vowed to place its primary focus on customers rather than competitors and put quality first to keep ahead of rivals.

Hyundai Motor's Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun attended an event hosted by The Carlyle Group in Seoul, Wednesday, and discussed issues including "how to revive customer interest" and "how to provide pre-emptive customer service" with Lee Kew-song, co-chief executive of The Carlyle Group.

"I've been emphasizing the need to bring the focus back to customers," Chung said. "Customers have always been our priority, but I question whether we are really thinking of our customers in our services and products. I want everyone at our company to think about how they can make the customer happy."

He also stressed the need to adapt a flexible corporate culture to bring change and innovation to the company.

"We will give more autonomy to our employees so they can make their own decisions," he said. "We are making our utmost efforts to improve communication within the organization."

Regarding leadership style, Chung said he differs from his grandfather Chung Ju-yung, who founded Hyundai Motor Group in 1947 and led the nation's industrialization.

"My grandfather was a strong leader, with the whole company following a single direction," he said. "But I try to provide a general direction and discuss ideas altogether. It may take longer, but I think we can find better answers when we work together."

Chung stressed the automaker's commitment to "quality," explaining that new technologies can only enrich customers' lives when quality is guaranteed.

"Technology can make driving more convenient, but malfunctions must be minimized," he said. "A car cannot reset every time, like a phone or a PC."

He also stressed the need to boost investment and efficiency in research and development, referring to it as one of his biggest challenges.

Chung said building partnerships is the key to future success.

Hyundai Motor Group has been partnering with mobility companies like Grab and Ola to accelerate its transition into a smart mobility solutions provider.

"Younger generations are not as keen on the idea of buying cars or even getting a drivers' license, so we have to shift our business to service," Chung said.

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