Hyundai Motors Hire Ex BMW M Chief Engineer

Hyundai Motor Company has hired former BMW Chief Engineer Albert Biermann, who was in charge of BMW's M division.

The South Korean carmaker has taken this move to develop performance cars and fine tune the ride and handling of Hyundai cars.

Biermann, who will take the role as Executive Vice President, will be the company's second-highest foreign executive, after Peter Schreyer, the design Chief of Hyundai and a former Audi executive.

His appointment will help Hyundai-Kia, which presently make affordable cars to increase its brand image globally.

57 year old Biermann will be in charge of testing and developing performance cars at Hyundai's research centre in Seoul, from April 2015.

He will also advise Hyundai about product strategy and marketing for the South Korean brand for the European market.

Biermann had been with BMW for over 30 years, before he joined Hyundai.

At the moment, 60 percent of Hyundai-Kia's sales in Korea are from selling large and mid-sized cars. South Korea is also facing stiff competition from foreign carmakers like BMW.

Hyundai said, "Biermann's appointment will pave the way for Hyundai-Kia to go head to head with European premium carmakers."