Hyundai Finds Ways to Thrive in a Beleaguered Industry
October 16, 2009 | Levent OZLER
These are important times for Hyundai. The Korean company has become an automotive giant, with sales that many analysts think will soon threaten Toyota's sales leadership worldwide.
Often accused of taking cues from other cars instead of coming up with its own designs, Hyundai has in the last few years been steadily developing a design language of its own.
It was first evident with the Genesis Coupe and continues in the upcoming revamped Sonata.
One of the people heading up the effort is Andre Hudson, design manager for Hyundai North America, a 33-year-old designer from Aurora, Colo., and a graduate of Detroit's College for Creative Studies.
In a recent interview, he talked about the company's challenges.
"... I think with Hyundai trying to establish itself here in America, it's vitally important.
Remember in the mid-'80s when Hyundai started selling products here?
Hyundai was criticized for doing copycat designs.
Well, for the past 10 to 12 years they've been trying to establish themselves as a serious player, and design is important for that."
more: post-gazette.com/pg/09281/1003827-28.stm (100)
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