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José Muñoz, the President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, has been named MotorTrend’s 2025 Person of the Year. This prestigious award celebrates Muñoz’s outstanding leadership, which has propelled Hyundai to new heights with record-breaking sales, increased market share, and bold investments in innovation and manufacturing. Alongside Muñoz, several other Hyundai executives earned spots on MotorTrend’s 2025 Power List, underscoring the company’s robust leadership and rising influence in the automotive industry.
Key Highlights:
- José Muñoz named MotorTrend’s 2025 Person of the Year
- First non-Korean to lead Hyundai Motor Company
- Drove record growth in sales, market share, and profitability
- Other Hyundai executives on MotorTrend’s Power List:
- Euisun Chung, Executive Chair
- SangYup Lee, Head of Global Design
- Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer
- Claudia Márquez, COO of Hyundai Motor America
- Karim Habib, Head of KIA Global Design
Muñoz’s journey to this accolade reflects his transformative impact on Hyundai since joining in 2019. As the first non-Korean leader of the company, he has overseen a product renaissance for Hyundai and its luxury division, Genesis, earning industry praise for quality and innovation. MotorTrend highlighted this shift, stating, “The Hyundai brand, known initially for value and affordability, has matured and is now associated with quality, good value, and enough cachet and gravitas to warrant adding the Genesis luxury division.” This is evidenced by the Genesis GV70 and Hyundai IONIQ 5 winning MotorTrend’s SUV of the Year titles in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Under Muñoz’s direction, Hyundai has invested heavily in the U.S., including a $12.6 billion commitment to a new assembly plant and battery joint ventures in Georgia. These efforts, alongside expansions in Alabama, Michigan, and California, have boosted production and created thousands of American jobs. Globally, Muñoz has guided Hyundai Motor Group to become the world’s third-largest automaker, aligning with Executive Chair Euisun Chung’s “Progress for Humanity” vision focused on electrification, sustainability, and advanced technologies.
Muñoz brings decades of automotive experience to Hyundai, with prior roles at Daewoo, Toyota, and Nissan, where he served as chief performance officer. His unique background in nuclear engineering and aerospace has fueled his innovative approach. Reflecting on the honor, Muñoz said, “I am extremely honored to be recognized among such a talented group of industry leaders. This recognition is due to the vision and support of our Executive Chair, the hard-working women and men of Hyundai, our outstanding dealer partners, our customers, and so many others who work tirelessly for Hyundai and Genesis in this competitive and dynamic industry. It’s a great time to be with Hyundai!”
With Muñoz at the helm, Hyundai’s trajectory remains upward, blending leadership, innovation, and a commitment to excellence that continues to redefine the brand’s place in the global market.
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