Do you have a Hyundai?

Changes in hyundai's model lineup?

• ive noticed that hyundai is turning to luxury cars in the past few years. especially with their new genesis models, but they still have their decent, affordable vehicles as well. i did some research on it and i found that hyundai has some very high end vehicles that are to be put into production like their new Equus which is supposed to be marketed at over $80,000 if it is to hit U.S. hyundai dealers. why do you think hyundai is beginning to market such high end vehicles? most people i know wouldn't spend over $30,000 on a brand new hyundai, why on earth would someone want to spend close to $100,000 on one? in my opinion, i think hyundai should stick to easily affordable vehicles. after all, that is where pretty much all their profit comes from.

• Answer:

  People said the same thing when Toyota and Nissan decided to start the Lexus and Infiniti brands. Hyundai has been making the Equus model for over a decade, but the new model is totally different from the Equus of the past. I believe the Equus model, if sold in the US is suppose to start around $50,000 to $60,000 which is a bargain compared to how much it is sold in Korea (the Genesis is sold between $45,000 to $60,000 in Korea and that does not include the V8 model). Hyundai-Kia is currently the fourth largest automobile manufacturer in the world and only second in Asia just behind Toyota. In recent interviews with Toyota executives, they have expressed concerns about Hyundai and their market share. Hyundai-Kia is the only automobile manufacturer that Toyota fears - and that says something. Kia is also moving up sales rapidly, even quicker than Hyundai due to their improving quality and design (hired the head designer from Audi about two years ago). Hyundai-Kia is the fastest growing foreign brand in China and is the largest exporter of cars in India (Hyundai has plants in both countries). Hyundai was the only major automaker to sell more vehicles in 2009 than 2008. The new Hyundai Sonota YF, along with the new Kia K7 is going to redefine the market segment for affordable large/mid-sized sedans. I travel between Korea and the US about every other month (been doing this for the past two years) and I can see the progress in Korean technology in all facets of business and products. I have had the chance to visit the Hyundai automotive plant, Hyundai Shipyard, and the Samsung electronics factory, and I can tell you it is getting better than the Japanese. The Korean's are accomplishing what the Japanese did in a lot shorter period of time.