Hyundai CEO Muñoz named MotorTrend Person of the Year

South Korea’s top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer José Muñoz was picked as the most powerful figure in the industry by a prestigious US automobile magazine.

MotorTrend said on Thursday it named Muñoz as 2025 MotorTrend Person of the Year.

“Ranked 15th on our list last year, Jose Muñoz steps into the history books as the first non-Korean to lead the conglomerate that includes the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands,” MotorTrend said.

“It is a surprising advancement but one that is well deserved. Muñoz has been a driving force, leading Hyundai through years of record growth in North American sales, market share, revenue, and profitability.”

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Hyundai Motor America (HMA) congratulated Muñoz on MotorTrend’s selection of him as the most influential person in the global auto industry.

Muñoz was Hyundai Motor Co.’s global chief operating officer (COO) and head of North and South American operations before taking the helm of South Korea's leading automaker this year.

“His visionary leadership has positioned Hyundai as a top EV automaker in the US while expanding our global reach to record heights,” HMA said on its official X account, formerly Twitter.

The magazine compiles the MotorTrend Power List of the 50 most influential people in the global automotive industry each year.

Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk ranked No. 2 on the list, followed by US President Donald Trump, General Motors Co. Chair Mary Barra and Rivian Automotive Inc. CEO RJ Scaringe.

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Chung Euisun ranked 12th on the list. The leader of the world's third-largest automotive group with two carmakers – Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. – was named 2023 MotorTrend Person of the Year.

Write to Jung-Eun Shin at newyearis@hankyung.com
 
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.