Hyundai Counts on Strength of Car Design to Sustain Sales Gains
December 21, 2009 | Levent OZLER
Hyundai broke into the U.S. market in 1986 with a $4,995 compact car, the Excel.
Now the automaker wants customers to buy its models for their looks.
After boosting its U.S. market share to a record this year, Hyundai aims to build on the gains with more stylish designs.
The new focus on looks, kicking off with the 2011 Sonata sedan and revamped Tucson crossover, is also aimed at helping South Korea's biggest carmaker command prices on par with larger Toyota and Honda.
"The basic idea is a car that looks like a premium car, but not at a premium price," Phil Zak, Hyundai's head of U.S. design, said in an interview.
"We're looking to pull people out of Camrys and Accords and give them something different."
more: bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aKnIfUlTu (28)
208 impressions - 7,013 clicks
