Hyundai Australia Gets New CEO, Moves To Top 5 Selling Brands

Following previous CEO Steve Yeo’s reassignment to a senior position at Hyundai’s Seoul headquarters, Edward Lee will step into the role of Chief Executive Officer at Hyundai Motor Company Australia, the manufacturer announced today.

Hyundai Australia’s new CEO previously headed Hyundai’s Corporate Audit Group in Seoul and has worked extensively within a number of overseas operations for the company.

Lee joins the Australian arm of the Korean giant-killer at a strong time for the brand, as it posts positive results for April and moves into the top 5 selling brands in the Australian automotive market.

Hyundai has posted a sales increase for April, making four months straight for 2009, with April seeing the Korean manufacturer raise sales by 12.3 percent increase over the same month last year, and a 12.2 percent increase over January to April 2008.

Hyundai’s market share for the first four months of 2009 was 6.1 percent, with 16,895 cars sold, and a 6.5 percent share for April – the company’s best April result since 1999 – with 4136 vehicles sold for the month.

TMR’s runner-up Best Drive Best Value small car for 2008, the Hyundai i30, ranked third in the small segment, with 1491 sales (including 235 of the new released i30cw wagons) and an 11 percent market share.

The iLoad van range ranked equal second in the van segment, with 147 sales to its name. The iLoad’s platform sibling, the iMax passenger shuttle, ranked fourth in its segment.

"April's results send a strong signal that the Hyundai brand is breaking old prejudices and winning new customers with a world class multi-award winning range of product.

The Hyundai model line offers consumers outstanding value, low cost of ownership, as well as high levels of safety technology," commented Kevin McCann, Director of Sales and Marketing.

Thanks to its strong year to date, April saw Hyundai ranked fifth in the passenger car market with an 8.4 percent market share and 5th overall for the month.