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Hyundai Motor executive chair visits U.S to celebrate 20th anniversary of its driving test facility

입력 2025.02.14 17:59

Kwon Jae-hyun

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun signs the hood of a vehicle during a ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of California Proving Ground in California on February 10 (local time). Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun and several other executives visited the U.S. While the official reason for the visit is to encourage officials at the company’s local driving test site, which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, it is also seen as the group has started to take all-out measures at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned cars as the next target of tariffs.

Hyundai Motor and Kia said on February 13 that they held an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of California Proving Ground in the Mojave Desert on the 10th (local time). The event was attended by Executive Chair Chung, Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon, Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz, and other executives.

“We have been able to make meaningful progress over the past 20 years thanks to the dedicated efforts of the California Proving Ground and its researchers,” said Chung. ”For the future, we need to focus on pioneering technologies such as AI, robotics, software-driven vehicles (SDVs), electrification, and hydrogen, and research facilities like the California Proving Ground will play a key role.” Established in 2005 by Hyundai Motor Group in the middle of the Mojave Desert with an investment of 120 billion won and an area of 17.7 million square meters, which is twice the size of Yeouido, the California Proving Ground symbolizes Hyundai and Kia's quality management. Hyundai and Kia conduct ride and handling evaluations and noise, vibration, and durability tests in the facility.

The year 2025 is expected to be a challenging one for Hyundai Motor Group, which hopes to surpass Volkswagen and become the world's second-largest automaker after Toyota. In particular, if the U.S. imposes tariffs on Korean cars in the name of reducing trade imbalances, as President Trump has promised, it is inevitable that exports will be disrupted for Hyundai and Kia, which are highly dependent on the North American market.

Hyundai Motor Group is reportedly focusing on convincing the second Trump administration that it has created more than 570,000 direct and indirect jobs in the U.S. in its local research and production centers, and has invested more than $20.5 billion (about 30 trillion won) in the U.S. since 2002.

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The executive chair is also expanding his contacts with U.S. government officials. On the sidelines of the 2025 Genesis Invitational, a PGA Tour tournament being held at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Chung met with Donald Trump Jr., the U.S. president’s eldest son and a heavyweight in the second administration.

Hyundai Motor Group is also in the process of organizing a meeting between Chung and Trump. The timing is expected to be around the completion of its new plant, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), in Georgia, which is expected in March or April. A group official said, “If they meet, it would be good to have a format and timing where they can talk about something in-depth,” adding, “There is nothing concrete about the meeting yet.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.