- Hyundai Motor Company has announced that José Muñoz will be taking over as President and CEO, helping lead Hyundai’s business globally as it continues to decarbonise its portfolio.
- Muñoz succeeds current President and CEO, Jaehoon Chang, who is now moving to a position as Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group – Automotive Division.
- Muñoz comes from a previous position as both Hyundai’s Global Chief Operating Officer, and President and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America – both roles which he has held since 2019.
Leadership change underway at Hyundai
Particular with his previous role of President and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America, Muñoz has seen significant growth for Hyundai Motor Group, particularly its EV division, in North America – becoming the second-largest EV brand in the U.S., behind Tesla. Before joining the firm, Muñoz already carried significant experience in the automotive sector thanks to his previous 15-year stint at Nissan Motor Corporation. This included senior roles such as Chief Performance Officer, and Chairman of Nissan North America.
Muñoz will take on the President and CEO position at the start of 2025, and will have two primary goals in his new role. This includes strengthening the manufacturer a global brand. Additionally, Muñoz will help progress Hyundai’s sustainability-led ‘Progress for humanity’ strategy. Hyundai has set ambitious future EV sales targets, with the manufacturer hoping to hit 2 million annual EV sales by 2030. However, this strategy involves not just BEVs, but hydrogen technology also. Additionally, other manufacturers like Toyota are also exploring this area, despite other manufacturers such as Volkswagen rejecting the technology in passenger car applications.
Soon-to-be Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO, José Muñoz, commented:
“It’s an honor to serve Hyundai, our employees, customers, dealers and other stakeholders in this new role. Thank you to our Executive Chair Euisun Chung and Vice Chair Jaehoon Chang for your trust. Succeeding in this challenging industry requires excellence throughout the value chain, from design and engineering, to manufacturing, sales and service, along with a talented team that’s able to deliver every step of the way. I’m excited and motivated by the challenge ahead and want to continue Hyundai’s growth trajectory and laser-focus on exceeding customer expectations. It truly is a great time to be with Hyundai.”
