It is a celebration time for Hyundai since the Korean manufacturer achieved a one-of-a-kind milestone by delivering its 15 millionth vehicle in the U.S. The vehicle is a 2023 Tucson, one of the most popular cars in Hyundai's lineup.
The Hyundai story in North America started on 20 February 1986. The Korean manufacturer sold 168 882 vehicles in North America that first year. Believe it or not, the only model Hyundai offered back then was the Excel.
Things became difficult for Hyundai in the next few years. The Korean manufacturer had to reduce its cost resulting in poor-quality vehicles, which translated into a poor reputation for the brand.
It took Hyundai several years to get its reputation back in North America. Nevertheless, the last couple of years has been fantastic for the Korean manufacturer. Hyundai seems to come up with a new home run production every single new year and even twice a year sometimes. Therefore, Hyundai was the 5th best-selling brand in the U.S. in 2022.
A Bright Future
Hyundai proved many to be capable of great things. The Korean manufacturer has success every time it tries a new category. With time, Hyundai developed a true passion for performance and became quite competitive in this field. A couple of years ago, the brand launched its first electric vehicle. Now Hyundai is one of the most appreciated manufacturers in the EV community. The Korean manufacturer developed IONIQ as a sub-brand specializing in electric cars, and it's working out pretty well so far.
Hyundai didn't just sell more and more vehicles in the last 36 years in North America. The Korean manufacturer built a bigger and better factory as well. The brand is far from being done too. Hyundai recently announced the Alabama plant would benefit from significant upgrades. There is a new plant in Bryan County in Georgia too. This new mega factory is expected to open in 2025, creating 8 100 new jobs at the same time.
Hyundai's lineup is getting better and more refined every year. Hyundai is now one of the most reliable automobile brands in the world, alongside Kia and Genesis, which are part of the same group. It sure took 36 years for the Korean manufacturer to sell 15 million vehicles in the U.S., but it will take a lot less than that to reach another 15 million units. Hyundai might be the 5th best-selling brand in the U.S. for now, but it could be the 4th or even better in the next few years thanks to all its investment and solid reputation.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
