Hyundai Motor's No. 1 dealer cites confidence, diligence as keys to success

Kim Ki-yang, sales director at Hyundai Motor's branch office in Daejeon, poses in front of the automaker's flagship IONIQ 6 electric vehicle, in this file photo. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Kim Ki-yang, sales director at Hyundai Motor, says he owes his success to his confidence and diligence — two core characteristics that have served him on his way to becoming the automaker's top dealer.

His name appeared in the ranks of Hyundai's top 10 sales associates for almost a decade before clinching the top spot for the first time in 2021. He has since maintained the position for three consecutive years. The acheivment came three decades after he started his career as a salesperson in 1991.

"My customers looked to have been attracted to my confidence when I describe and explain details about our vehicle lineup," he said during a telephone interview.

"This is my core strength," he said. "Confidence is becoming more important for salespeople in this period when the auto paradigm is shifting. If you do not get a complete grasp of the entire range encompassing vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, hybrids and electric vehicles, you can never exude confidence to customers."

Customers now have a better understanding of automobiles than in the past thanks to the rise of social media, so staying up to date with the latest auto trends is crucial for salespeople, he added.

According to the automaker's data, his accumulated auto sales were 6,194 vehicles as of the end of 2023. This is equivalent to an average of 16 vehicles sold each month.

He is confident he will set a new sales record of more than 8,000 cars before he retires.

"I hope to reach a bigger milestone of 10,000 accumulated sales, but it looks realistically tough in that I am in my mid-50s."

Kim, 55, also picked diligence as another driving force behind his robust sales performance.

"I wake up at 5 a.m. every day and arrive at the office before 6 a.m. to double-check customer lists and hectic daily schedules," he said. "After finishing the two-hour-long paperwork in the morning, I spend most of my time on pre-delivery vehicle inspection and customer meetings. This is my steadfast daily routine for the past few decades."

He said young sales agents should live diligently, as few people can survive in the hyper-competitive sales industry for a long period of time without such dedication.

"Waking up early, in itself, helps a lot to refresh your mind and energy," he said. "I rarely have drinks at night, but instead, focus more on maintaining my diligent routine."