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| Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun talks about the history of the Pony Coupe Concept at the "Pony's Time" exhibition in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group |
By Kim Hyun-bin
Hyundai Motor restored the "Pony Coupe Concept" at the 1974 Turin Motor Show in Italy, showcasing it in its original form in Seoul. Korea's largest automaker held a commemorative event, Wednesday, for the unveiling of the restored car, the company's first independent model that achieved significant success, at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul. The Pony Coupe made its global debut in Italy last month.
The Pony Coupe was unable to enter mass production despite its groundbreaking accomplishments as Hyundai's inaugural standalone model.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun attended the event and said, "I wanted to reflect on the past journey and understand what has shaped Hyundai today. It reminded me of the words of our founder and my grandfather, Chairman Chung Ju-yung."
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| Pony Coupe Concept on display at the "Pony's Time" exhibition at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul, Wednesday / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group |
The Pony's origin can be traced back to Chairman Chung Ju-yung, the founder of Hyundai Group. In late 1973, he personally visited Turin, Italy, and sought out Giorgio Giugiaro, an esteemed designer, requesting him to design a car for Hyundai. This encounter led to the birth of the Pony and the Pony Coupe.
Upon its release, the Pony achieved remarkable success, capturing a 44 percent market share in the domestic market in 1976 and becoming the first Korean-made car to be exported. However, the Pony Coupe failed to enter mass production due to the global economic downturn resulting from the 1979 oil crisis and deteriorating business conditions.
The restoration project of the Pony Coupe was undertaken by Chung Euisun, who is the grandson of Chairman Chung Ju-yung. Designer Giorgio Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio Giugiaro were entrusted with the restoration work, which faithfully reproduced the body, engine and interior exactly as they appeared in 1974.
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| Hyundai cars displayed at the "Pony's Time" exhibition at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul, Wednesday / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group |
"I wanted to reflect on the past journey and understand what has shaped Hyundai today. Chairman Chung Ju-yung reconstructed roads in the war-ravaged territory of Korea and Chairman Chung Se-yung produced cars that traveled on those roads, establishing the foundation for the continuous growth of the domestic automobile industry through localization efforts." Executive Chair Chung Euisun said. "Chairman Chung Mong-koo, through technological independence and a complete lineup, transformed Hyundai into a global brand."
Chung Euisun concluded by expressing his commitment to carrying forward Chairman Chung Ju-yung's human-centered philosophy and Chairman Chung Mong-koo's emphasis on quality and fundamentals to continue progressing towards a better life through future mobility.
The "Pony's Time" exhibition showcases the Pony, and various Pony derivatives, such as the Pony Pickup and Pony Wagon, as well as the IONIQ 5 EV and the N Vision 74 fuel cell sports car, both inspired by the Pony and the Pony Coupe, respectively. The exhibition will be open for public viewing at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul from June 9 to Aug. 6.
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