Hyundai’s Chung Euisun named MotorTrend’s Person of the Year

Chung Euisun, chairman of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, has been named Person of the Year by MotorTrend, topping the prestigious US automobile media outlet’s 2023 Power List.

MotorTrend named him this year’s most influential person in the auto industry for “leading Hyundai into a new age of automaking through innovation and visionary thinking,” according to Hyundai Motor Co. on Thursday.

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

Over the past five years, Chung has risen progressively from his first appearance on the power list at No. 12 in 2018 to No. 5 in 2022 and reaching the top post this year.

While touching on his vision of the future, MotorTrend said: “Chung is putting his stamp on the company’s future. His grasp of where the world and the industry are headed, combined with a desire to make the planet a better place, spurs a broader mission to become a leader in electric vehicles and advanced mobility.”

ELON MUSK RANKS 42ND

While General Motors Chief Executive Mary Barra came in second, Stellantis Chairman Carlos Tavares ranked fourth. Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s ranking stood at 42nd.

“Tesla may have popularized electric cars, but Hyundai Motor Group is democratizing them, flooding the market with a wide variety of models, both styles and price points, and making them super cool or drop-dead gorgeous. Or both,” MotorTrend said.

Also on the top 50 list are LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, ranking 20th, and LG Energy Solution Ltd. Vice Chairman Kwon Young-soo at 45th.

Chairman Chung’s previous industry honors include the industry’s 2022 Visionary of the Year by Newsweek.

In 2021, he won the Autocar Awards' top accolade, the Issigonis Trophy. Named after legendary car designer Sir Alec Issigonis, the trophy is awarded by Autocar, a weekly British auto magazine, to an individual who has played a significant role in helping to shape the future of the auto industry.

HITTING BALLS OUT OF THE PARK

MotorTrend also praised Hyundai Motor Group’s cars under the Hyundai, Kia Corp. and premium Genesis brands.

“The vehicles coming out of Hyundai Motor Group are notable for their eye-catching design, quality, clever packaging and good value – and they are proving increasingly difficult to beat,” it said.

The acclaim follows a series of MotorTrend awards for the group’s models, including the 2023 SUV of the Year for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the 2023 Car of the Year for the Genesis G90.

Genesis also received top honors from MotorTrend in previous years, including the GV70 as the 2022 SUV of the Year and the G70 as the 2019 Car of the Year.

“Hyundai, Genesis and Kia have been repeatedly hitting balls out of the park,” MotorTrend said.

Four other executives from Hyundai Motor Group also made the list this year.

Luc Donckerwolke, president and chief creative officer of Hyundai Motor Group, ranked third on the list. Jose Munoz, president and global chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor, was 10th. Lee Sang-yup, executive vice president and head of Hyundai Global Design Center, ranked 28th. Karim Habib, executive vice president and head of Kia Global Design Center, came in 44th.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.