Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Euisun Chung visited Hyundai Motor's manufacturing plant in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, on July 27 (local time) to review the company's production and sales strategies as well as its long-term growth plans in one of its most important overseas markets.
Although Chung was accompanying the South Korean president as a member of the official business delegation during the state visit to Brazil, he separately toured the Hyundai plant to assess the company's future mobility strategy, with a particular focus on eco-friendly vehicles and hydrogen-related businesses amid intensifying competition in the Brazilian market.
Brazil, with annual vehicle demand of approximately 2.5 million units, is the world's sixth-largest automobile market and Hyundai Motor's key production base in Latin America. As Chinese automakers continue expanding local manufacturing operations, Hyundai is strengthening its localized production capabilities while accelerating its electrification and hydrogen initiatives.
During the visit, Chung inspected Hyundai Motor's Latin America R&D Center, where he emphasized the importance of strengthening local research capabilities and powertrain localization. He also reviewed production quality for the i20, which entered production in June this year, and the Creta SUV, one of Hyundai's best-selling models in Brazil.
Congratulating employees on the Piracicaba plant's cumulative production of more than 2.5 million vehicles, achieved in March this year, Chung described Brazil as "one of Hyundai Motor's core global markets."
To reinforce its competitiveness in Brazil, Hyundai outlined three key strategic priorities: expanding its SUV lineup, introducing eco-friendly vehicles tailored to local market conditions, and establishing a foundation for the hydrogen business.
The company is developing flex-fuel hybrid electric vehicles (FFV-HEVs) capable of operating on both gasoline and ethanol, reflecting Brazil's unique fuel infrastructure. These models will initially be introduced in the SUV segment, while the company is also evaluating local production of battery electric vehicles.
Looking further ahead, Hyundai plans to collaborate with other Hyundai Motor Group affiliates to develop Brazil's hydrogen ecosystem, including hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, fuel cell systems, and green hydrogen production.
Hyundai's business momentum in Brazil continues to strengthen. The company sold 96,723 vehicles during the first half of this year, up 12.1% from a year earlier, marking its strongest first-half performance since 2019. Hyundai achieved a 7.1% market share, ranking fifth among automotive brands in Brazil.
Its HB20 compact hatchback has surpassed cumulative sales of 1.88 million units, while the Creta ranked as the best-selling SUV in Brazil's dealer sales during the first half of the year. Supported by the recently launched i20, Hyundai aims to sell 204,000 vehicles in Brazil this year.
Beyond manufacturing and sales, Hyundai continues to expand its corporate social responsibility initiatives in Brazil. Through its IONIQ Forest project, the company has planted 100,000 trees to help restore the Brazilian rainforest while also operating free dental care programs for local communities.
The Piracicaba plant has recently become the only automotive manufacturer in Brazil to receive certification as an "Ethical Company" and has also been recognized as one of the country's "Best Companies to Work For" for nine consecutive years.
