Hyundai Motor Group’s Executive Chair, Euisun Chung, today won the ‘Visionary of the Year’ award at the inaugural Newsweek World’s Greatest Auto Disrupters event. The World’s Greatest Auto Disruptors 2022 program has evolved from Newsweek America’s 50 Greatest Disruptors – a list of visionaries, innovators and pioneers – introduced in 2021. The new awards recognize agents of change in the automotive industry who are using technology in ways
that will profoundly and positively impact people’s lives.
One of six awards conferred at the event, ‘Visionary of the Year’ is given to a leader who is taking
significant actions to shape the future of the automotive industry now and over the next 30 years.
Newsweek recognized Chung for his significant role in the rise of Hyundai and Kia in the global
automotive industry. Under his leadership and bold vision for the future, the Group is redefining
what is possible in mobility, and providing greater freedom of movement for humanity through
vehicle electrification, robotics and advanced air mobility (AAM).
“Today’s leading automakers are pushing the boundaries in ways that keep us moving and also
capture the imagination. The disruptors on this list deserve to be recognized for pushing the
industry forward, as well as for their leadership in responding to the challenges brought on by the
pandemic,” said Nancy Cooper, Global Editor in Chief, Newsweek.
Receiving the award, Executive Chair Chung said: “On behalf of everyone at Hyundai Motor
Group, I would like to thank Newsweek for these three prestigious awards. They reflect the hard
work of all our people and business partners, who are focused on transforming the Group into a
smart mobility solutions provider with sustainability at the core of what we do. Their dedication to
making disruptive technologies a reality is why I am here to share this honor.”
He added: “I have always believed cars are a way to connect people. There’s nothing more human
than the insatiable desire to explore, to imagine and to make progress. Mobility quite literally brings
people together. And when we work together, human beings are capable of extraordinary things.”
“Hyundai Motor Group is committed to making our mobility vision a reality to benefit all humanity.
We want to enable more time and more space for everyone to do what truly drives them. Of
course, Hyundai Motor Group cannot achieve this alone. I hope that our vision inspires the
imaginations of talented people all over the world, and that they will join us in solving the greatest
challenges facing humanity,” said Chung in finishing his speech.
In all, the Group won three out of the six awards given at the World’s Greatest Auto Disrupters
2022 event. Newsweek also honored the Group for ‘Research and Development Team of the Year’
and ‘Powertrain Evolution of the Year’.
The Group’s Vehicle Architecture Development Center was the awarded ‘Research and
Development Team of the Year’ for developing Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), and the
Group’s Electrified Propulsion Technology Unit was awarded ‘Powertrain Evolution of the Year’ for
developing an 800-volt battery system. Both awards reflect the Group’s continuing efforts to
innovate and to bring new mobility solutions to market.
Under Chung’s leadership, the Group is accelerating its deployment of robotics and AAM
technologies and exploring their role in future smart city development. Chung is also spearheading
the Group’s transformation into a provider of human-centered mobility solutions.
The Group is advancing the commercialization of robot products through its robotics affiliate
Boston Dynamics. Earlier this year at CES, the Group announced its robotics vision, which
connects robots and the Metaverse to create a ‘MetaMobility’, expanding mobility into the virtual
world.
For autonomous driving, the Group is working through Motional, a joint venture with Aptiv, to
develop revolutionary yet safe autonomous driving technology that will be showcased through the
IONIQ 5 robotaxi to be commercialized in 2023.
The Group’s affiliate Supernal will develop electrified advanced air mobility (AAM) by 2028 for use
in urban areas. While adding a new dimension to mobility, it is also aimed at revolutionizing how
people and society move, connect and live.
The Group has also made significant advances in electrification with the introduction of the award-
winning advanced battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6. Both use the Group’s dedicated BEV platform, the E-GMP. With a highly competitive product line-up, the
Group aims to achieve annual BEV sales of 3.07 million units by 2030.
In addition to electrification, the Group is also actively creating a hydrogen energy ecosystem,
working with external partners and acquiring key capabilities such as power generation through the
use of fuel cells.
Chung has also overseen the launch of Hyundai Motor Company’s high-performance N brand, and
the Genesis luxury brand.
Additionally, Chung was responsible for bringing in world-renowned designers including Peter
Schreyer and Luc Donckerwolke to the Group. They established Hyundai and Kia as design
leaders with highly desirable products that appeal to a new generation of car buyers, resulting in
numerous design awards for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands.
Chung was President of Kia from 2005 to 2009 before becoming Vice Chairman and then
Executive Vice Chairman of the Group, with responsibility for diverse affiliate companies in the
automotive, steel and construction industries, including Hyundai Motor Company and Kia
Corporation. He was inaugurated as Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group in October 2020.
Under Chung’s leadership, a new corporate culture is being established, encouraging people to try
new things, think creatively and to be proactive. He believes that the company’s great
transformation can be shaped by its employees, harnessing their talents and enthusiasm to
accelerate change.
Chung’s leadership has been recognized with many prestigious industry accolades, including the
Issigonis Trophy awarded by Autocar, and he was named one of the Top 200 New Generation
Industry Leaders by the World Economic Forum.
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