| Hyundai first arrived on the shores of the United | | | | Associates. |
| States in 1986; however, the company itself has been | | | | Hyundai has invested heavily in its American market, |
| around much longer. Originally founded in 1947 by | | | | building Hyundai America Technical Center in California |
| Chung Ju-Yung as the Hyundai Engineering and | | | | City, California in 2004. This is a 4,300-acre complex |
| Construction Company, Hyundai Motor Corporation | | | | located in the Mojave Desert. Hyundai has construed a |
| was established in 1967. Hyundai released its first car | | | | 6.4-mile oval test track, a Vehicle Dynamics Area and |
| the Cortina in 1968 and even then, it was associated | | | | a series of special surface roads for the testing of |
| with a United States company, Ford Motors. | | | | prototype vehicles. California is not the only place |
| By 1986, Hyundai was ready for America. They | | | | Hyundai maintains a United States presence. In May of |
| started gradually with a single model that year, the | | | | 2005, an assembly plant was opened just outside |
| Excel. Offered with a variety of options and trim | | | | Montgomery, Alabama. The plant employs 2,000 |
| models at a very attractive price, the Excel set a | | | | workers. Although this is Hyundai's second attempt to |
| record with the most automobiles sold for a company | | | | produce cars in North America, the first was a |
| in its first year. Although the Excel got off to a good | | | | Canadian plant that was closed in 1993, the future is |
| start, it was plagued by various flaws. From serious | | | | brighter for the venture this time as Hyundai continues |
| engine failures to malfunctions in window regulators | | | | to gain quality rankings and sales continue to increase. |
| and door handles, word soon got out and sales took a | | | | By 2006, the company had managed to rank third in |
| nosedive. | | | | J.D. Powers and Associates quality ranking which was |
| Hyundai's true interests lie in creating a new image for | | | | just behind Porsche and Lexus. In fact, Hyundai has |
| itself. Hyundai wanted to compete on higher level than | | | | improved in all categories and resale value continues to |
| it had previously so in 1998 their parent company, | | | | improve as well. 2006 was also the year that the |
| Hyundai Motors took a direct interest in pushing | | | | Hyundai Entourage was chosen as the Insurance |
| Hyundai to the front in as world class brand. Chung | | | | Institute for Highway Safety "Gold Top Safety Pick". |
| Ju-Yung, the founder of the company, handed the | | | | This distinction makes the Hyundai Entourage the |
| reins to his son Chung Mong Koo and an aggressive | | | | safest minivan ever tested. The same year Hyundai |
| marketing campaign began. | | | | was also awarded 'Top-rated 2006 Ideal Vehicle' by |
| Hyundai went back to the drawing board and | | | | AutoPacific. |
| proceeded to invest more in quality and manufacturing. | | | | Hyundai continues to invest heavily in long-term |
| It added a 10 year 100,000 mile power train warranty, | | | | research and quality continues to improve. It has set its |
| something still rare in the auto world today, and by | | | | sights on toppling Toyota from its long held top spot in |
| 2004 was able to turn around its negative image. | | | | the United States Market. If things continue as they |
| Sales rose and in 2004 Hyundai tied with Honda for | | | | have been, this goal might actually be in sight. |
| initial brand quality in a survey from J.D. Power and | | | | |