Hyundai Motor Group recognized as greatest disruptive innovators in global automotive industry

Hyundai Motor Group Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke, right, poses for a picture while receiving the Disruptor Designer of the Year award at the Newsweek World's Greatest Auto Disruptors awards ceremony at One World Trade Center in New York, Tuesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

By Kim Jae-heun

Hyundai Motor Group Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke, has received the Disruptor Designer of the Year award at the Newsweek World's Greatest Auto Disruptors 2023 award ceremony, a company official said on Wednesday.

Luc Donckerwolke won the award for his industry-leading vision overseeing Hyundai Motor Group's extensive portfolio of automotive brands ― namely Hyundai, Kia and Genesis ― and the transition to mobility, urban air travel and robotics.

“Is there anything better than to receive such prestigious recognition for doing what you love to do?” Donckerwolke said while accepting his award at the ceremony at One World Trade Center in New York, on Tuesday, where this year's honorees were celebrated for their distinguished contributions.

“I feel honored and privileged to been acknowledged as a Newsweek disruptor,” Donckerwolke added. “I strive to inspire, innovate, disrupt and challenge the status quo. This is only made possible by the trust of our board members and the hard work from my incredibly talented team and their leaders.”

He was lauded for instigating creative and idea-pushing designs, as well as for his work utilizing concept cars in traditional ways (albeit with untraditional designs) to preview the future of the brands, while other companies have seemingly left the practice behind.

The awards program highlights agents of change in the automotive industry across nine categories. To be considered, candidates had to be employing vision in a way that is driving fundamental, transformative change in the automotive market.

Last year, at the World's Greatest Auto Disruptors inaugural event, Hyundai Motor Group's Executive Chair Chung Euisun was recognized as Visionary of the Year. The program continues to award and recognize leaders in the automotive industry who are pushing the boundaries of innovation.

Newsweek also recognized the marketing activities of Genesis House New York, a flagship luxury lifestyle destination under the Hyundai Motor Group brand, as Disruptor Marketing of the Year.

Hyundai Motor Group is a global enterprise that has created a value chain based on mobility, steel, and construction, as well as logistics, finance, IT and services. With about 250,000 employees worldwide, the Group's mobility brands include Hyundai, Kia and Genesis.