Korean automaker’s first foreign leader gets recognized for driving Hyundai’s growth in North America
Hyundai Motor Company CEO Jose Munoz has been named the person of the year in the automotive industry for 2025 by US auto magazine MotorTrend, taking the top honor among numerous household names such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the second place and General Motors CEO Mary Barra at the fourth spot.
Munoz, who became the first foreign CEO of Hyundai Motor Company in January this year, was recognized for being a driving force behind Hyundai’s years of growth in North American sales, market share, revenue and profitability. Munoz joined Hyundai in 2019 as president and global chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor and president and CEO of Hyundai and its premium brand Genesis in North America.
MotorTrend noted that Hyundai’s North American sales have seen constant growth. Under Munoz, the Korean automaker sold 801,200 units in 2023 and 836,802 in 2024. The Hyundai Motor CEO was placed 15th on MotorTrend’s automotive leader list last year.
Hyundai Motor Group, which is composed of three brands in Hyundai Motor Company, Kia and Genesis, has been the world’s third-largest automaker since 2022. The global sales of all three brands hit 7.23 million units last year.
“Munoz has managed successful growth to date, and with expanded responsibilities he will continue to oversee the corporation’s broader mobility vision, including multiple modes and forms of transportation and propulsion, from regular cars to motorsports to flying taxis, propelled by conventional powertrains, electric motors and hydrogen,” MotorTrend wrote in the person of the year announcement.
“He must also focus on managing the conglomerate to continue growing and strengthening the brands’ global status. This includes continuing the grand experiment of selling cars on Amazon, using his experience in the US to deal with challenges posed by the new Trump administration and getting the Hyundai Supernal SA-2 flying car off the ground.”
Other executives of the Korean auto conglomerate also made this year’s list, including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun at the 12th place and Lee Sang-yup, head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design, at the 18th spot and Claudia Marquez, chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor America, at the 20th place. Chung won the person of the year honor in 2023.
“I am extremely honored to be recognized by MotorTrend Group as 2025 Person of the Year and to be among such a talented group of industry leaders,” said Munoz in a post on his LinkedIn page.
“This recognition is due to the vision and support of our Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair (Chung Euisun), the hard working women and men of Hyundai Motor Company, our outstanding dealer partners, our customers and so many others who work tirelessly for Hyundai and Genesis in this competitive and dynamic industry.”
By Kan Hyeong-woo ([email protected])
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