US congressmen visit Hyundai Motor
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Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, right, walks along with U.S. Senator Deb Fischer, left, before a luncheon meeting at the Rolling Hills Hotel in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. On the right on the back row is U.S. Senator John Barrasso. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Lee Hyo-sik
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo held a meeting with a group of U.S. senators and House representatives, Monday, to discuss the automaker’s business in the United States and other pending issues concerning both nations.
The five-member delegation also visited Hyundai Motor’s Namyang research and development (R&D) center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, to test-drive the EQ 900 (globally-named G90) premium sedan, the i-Oniq hybrid and other next-generation vehicles.
As part of the three-nation tour of Korea, Japan and Australia, the delegation, headed by Senator Deb Fischer came here Monday to learn more about Korea’s automobile industry and transport infrastructure, Hyundai Motor said.
The other four members are Senators Thad Cochran and John Barrasso, and Representatives John J. Duncan Jr. and Diane Black.
After holding a luncheon meeting with Chairman Chung at the Rolling Hills Hotel in Hwaseong, the U.S. delegation toured Hyundai Motor’s R&D center. Among others, they visited the carmaker’s design facilities and collision test site.
“Hyundai Motor Group has been placing top priority on advancing autonomous driving technologies to become a leader in this rapidly-emerging auto segment,” Chung told them. “We are also making huge investments to develop hybrid, electric and other environment-friendly vehicles to cater to diverse consumer needs and protect the environment.”
After test-riding the EQ900, Senator Fischer said that “The premium sedan will have great appeal to U.S consumers for its luxury interior and driving performance.”
“Hyundai’s strenuous efforts to develop future-oriented vehicles will enable the automaker to become a global leader,” Senator John Barrasso was quoted as saying by the company.
The senators and representatives also watched a video about Hyundai Motor’s corporate history and then observed collision tests. On the test track, they test-drove Hyundai’s EQ900 and i-Oniq hybrid and electric, as well as Kia Motors’ Niro compact sports utility vehicle (SUV) and K7 sedan.
According to the company, they expressed keen interest in the EQ900 premium sedan, which will soon be launched in the United States. The i-Oniq hybrid and other next-generation, environment-friendly vehicles is also scheduled to debut in the world’s largest automobile market in the latter half of the year.
In 2016, Hyundai Motor Group aims to increase its market share from last year’s 6.2 percent by introducing the extensive lineup of SUVs, and electric and hybrid sedans.
Hyundai said it will sell 783,000 cars this year, up 2.8 percent from 2015, while Kia Motors plans to boost its sales by 8.2 percent to 677,000.