'Customer-Oriented and
Global Management'

Hyundai Automotive Group aims at posting 106 trillion won in sales in 2007, a 14 percent surge

Hyundai Automotive Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo said, "The top priority of 2007 is to implement the "customer-oriented management and to stabilize the "global management"which is beginning to take root in worldwide sites such as U.S., China, India and Europe."In a speech delivered to its employees on the Jan. 2 ceremony marking the start of the business year 2007 in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, Chairman Chung said that in order to do this, his group aims to enhance marketing capability and brand value while increasing its quality and profitability by cutting costs and having system management in place.
Chung also said that 2007 will be the very crucial year for Hyundai to become the global leader in the automotive industry. To achieve this goal, "we must build the effective communication network between headquarters and global production and sales division to generate the maximum synergy effect,"he said.
Hyundai Automotive Group announced that the group posted an estimated 93 trillion won in sales during 2006, including 56 trillion won in the automotive sector. In particular, the group sold 3,762,000 car units. The group has drawn up the 2007 business plan calling for a 14 percent surge to 106 trillion won in combined group sales, including 64 trillion won in the automotive sector. It has set its 2007 car sales target at 4,275,000 units, up 13.6 percent over 2006.
Chairman Chung extended a thank-you for his employees'painstaking efforts, saying that "each business sector has achieved remarkable accomplishments despite worst-ever management uncertainties like the appreciation of the Korean currency."The Huyundai Automotive Group has established major production centers in major global markets with the production of Cee'd at Kia Motors'plant in Slovakia, and 2006 was a stellar year for making a milestone in global management with breaking ground for Hyundai Motor's Czech plant, Kia Motors'Georgia plant in the United States, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors'second plants in China and Hyundai Motor's second plant in India, he said.
Chung said his group will be concentrating on investments related to the expansion of global production centers and new investments for completing the vertical integration of such areas as steelmaking. nw

Hyundai Automotive Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo delivers a message during the New Year greeting session on Jan. 2.