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Hyundai Motor Company CEO José Muñoz Honoured As 2025 MotorTrend Person Of The Year For Leadership Excellence
José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, has been named MotorTrend's 2025 Person of the Year. He also tops their 2025 Power List. MotorTrend highlighted Muñoz as the first non-Korean leader of the conglomerate that includes Hyundai and Genesis. They praised his role in driving record growth in North American sales, market share, revenue, and profitability.
Muñoz expressed gratitude for this recognition, attributing it to the vision of Executive Chair Euisun Chung and the dedication of Hyundai's workforce. "I am extremely honored to be recognized among such a talented group of industry leaders," said Muñoz. "This recognition is due to the vision and support of our Executive Chair, the hard working women and men of Hyundai, our outstanding dealer partners, our customers and so many others who work tirelessly for Hyundai and Genesis in this competitive and dynamic industry. It’s a great time to be with Hyundai!"
Under Muñoz's leadership, Hyundai has achieved significant milestones. The company has expanded its capacity globally, including a $12.6 billion investment in a new assembly plant and two battery joint ventures in Georgia. Additionally, investments have been made in Alabama's manufacturing plant, Michigan's Safety Test Lab, and California's headquarters.
Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) has invested $20.5 billion in the U.S., creating over 570,000 jobs since its entry into the market. This expansion reflects HMG’s commitment to enhancing its presence in North America through strategic investments.
Muñoz joined Hyundai in 2019 as president and global COO before becoming CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America. His tenure saw consecutive record sales. In 2022, he joined Hyundai's Board of Directors with responsibilities extending to Europe, India, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific.
His leadership aligns with Euisun Chung’s "Progress for Humanity" vision which focuses on smart cities, electrification, advanced air mobility, autonomous driving, robots, artificial intelligence, and hydrogen economy to enhance safety and sustainability.
A Diverse Background
Before joining Hyundai, Muñoz had a diverse career path that included roles at Daewoo, Toyota, and Nissan where he served as chief performance officer. He started his career in nuclear engineering after earning a Ph.D. from Polytechnic University of Madrid.
Muñoz is fluent in English, Spanish, and French. His academic background includes an MBA from Instituto de Empresa Business School in Madrid and executive programs at Cranfield School of Management in the UK and INSEAD Business School in France.
Recognition for Innovation
The Hyundai brand has evolved from being known for affordability to being associated with quality and innovation. MotorTrend acknowledged this transformation by naming Genesis GV70 as the 2022 SUV of the Year and Hyundai IONIQ 5 as the 2023 SUV of the Year.
This shift highlights Hyundai’s commitment to delivering contemporary offerings that resonate with consumers seeking both value and luxury.
The achievements under José Muñoz’s leadership underscore his impact on Hyundai’s growth trajectory. His strategic initiatives have positioned Hyundai as a formidable player in the automotive industry worldwide.
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