Chang Jae-hoon, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, addressed Hyundai Motor's recent slump in the domestic market, saying, "The area where Hyundai Motor can have an edge is service," and, "Compared with foreign brands, we are continually improving service quality and customer responsiveness, and we will make this a point of differentiation."
Chang spoke to reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the Suwon High-Tech Center in Giheung-gu, Yongin, on the 30th. Starting official operations on July 1, the Suwon High-Tech Center is Hyundai Motor's advanced repair facility, equipped with an automated service environment based on smart mobility and capabilities for high-difficulty vehicle repairs and quality analysis.
Chang said, "This area has many imported-car dealers nearby," adding, "Because of that, we spent a lot of time thinking about how to differentiate the customer experience and the post-sale usage experience." He emphasized, "With electrification and smart features, we focused on technologies for advanced functions on the maintenance side, and we prepared from a different level starting with an overall response manual so customers have no inconvenience with repairs."
Chang was also confident about the impact of new models. He said, "Cars have cycles, and judging by this year's Grandeur and the upcoming Avante, the cycle looks good," adding, "I believe new models will be enough to draw in customers for the next few years, and we will be able to respond with our own competitiveness compared with rival models."
Hyundai Motor's sales from January to May this year were 258,481 units, down 11.7% from the same period a year earlier. In April, sales fell 19.9% on-year to 54,051 units, while Kia sold 55,045 units in the same period, surpassing Hyundai Motor for the first time since being acquired by Hyundai Motor Group.
On dedicated Genesis service hubs, he said, "We need a bit more time," but added, "We are continually considering ways to differentiate for Genesis customers."