As a prolific automaker offering diverse sedans, SUVs, sports coupes, and EVs across price points, Hyundai‘s extensive model range has a vehicle suited for nearly every consumer. This comprehensive guide will help you discover your perfect Hyundai match by exploring the brand‘s storied history, top-selling models, electric vehicle vision, and what new concepts are on the horizon.
Whether you seek a rugged family SUV, sleek sports coupe, or a forward-looking EV, reading on will equip you to find your ideal Hyundai based on performance, interior space, technology features and more. I‘ll incorporate model statistics and insight gleaned from years serving friends and family as their unofficial Hyundai product expert – guiding them to great decisions on vehicles like the Kona, Sonata, and Tucson.
Let‘s delve in! I‘ll overview…
Brief History of Hyundai‘s Automotive Rise
While you probably associate Hyundai with popular SUVs like the Tucson and Palisade seen shuttling families today, the Korean company only entered automaking in 1967. Back then, Hyundai held ambitions to power South Korea‘s economic resurgence in the post-war era.
The rapidly growing conglomerate first dipped into car manufacturing via a licensing deal with Ford to produce the Cortina sedan domestically. But Hyundai‘s team had bigger dreams – soon launching their first proprietary compact car, the Pony, in 1975. Pitched as the "car for everyone," the little Pony embodied Hyundai‘s commitment to affordable transportation for the masses.
Initial export models like the Excel compact sedan expanded Hyundai‘s reach globally through the 1980s and 90s, albeit with notorious quality control issues that the brand steadily overcame. Now thoroughly proven after 75 million vehicles produced globally, Hyundai has carved a niche for dependable, tech-rich cars protected by America‘s best warranty program.
Review the critical milestones of Hyundai‘s rise at a glance:
| Year | Milestone Car/Event |
|---|---|
| 1967 | Hyundai Motor Company Founded |
| 1968 | Cortina Licensed Model Production Begins |
| 1975 | Pony Compact Car Debuts Hyundai‘s First Independently Designed Model |
| 1986 | Excel Subcompact Sedan Expands Exports to Canada and America |
| 1998 | 10 Year / 100K Mile Powertrain Warranty Introduced |
| 2008 | Genesis Sedan Launches Luxury Brand Ambitions |
| 2021 | IONIQ 5 Midsize Crossover Leads EV Portfolio Expansion |
Now thriving over 50 years since its automotive origins, Hyundai works close to home with California-based engineers tailoring vehicles like the Elantra specifically to American tastes at its Irvine Design Center. Global sales have ballooned to over 6 million vehicles annually across thousands of dealer partners.
While many still recognize Hyundais for dependability and value, the brand leads global battery EV initiatives and even eyes autonomous air mobility via its Supernal startup. Clearly no longer the economy car company launched in 1967, Hyundai‘s model diversity now rivals premium marques – and it‘s only growing bolder!
Top Selling SUV Models: Venue, Tucson, and Palisade
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