John Elsworth – COO Hyundai Australia

https://soundcloud.com/db_drivenmedia/john-elsworth-coo-hyundai-australia

Hyundai has ridden the wave of Korean car manufacturing.

Established in 1967, Hyundai vehicles are now sold in 186 countries through some 5,300 dealerships and showrooms and they employ over 90,000 people worldwide.

They came to Australia in 1986 and built a reputation on the bargain priced Excel.

They are now a more mature brand offering product across a wide spectrum of vehicles.

How are they travelling in the target market.  To help us understand I have on the line John Elsworth their Chief Operating Officer in Australia.

  • You have just recorded a vehicle credible result in the JD Power reliability surveys in the US.  Is that important to the brand
  • It must be particularly important with the launch of the Genesis upmarket large car?
  • Getting into markets other than competitively priced small cars
  • You have the best selling small SUV – the ix35 but your Santa Fe
  • You don’t have a medium SUV
  • Rallying
  • Soccer and AFL
  • Social media – myHyundai
  • I’ve just driven the Elantra – Australians aren’t into sedans as much as hatchbacks
  • Don’t have a competitor in the official medium sized SUV