Korean manufacturer Hyundai celebrated the production of its 100 millionth
vehicle recently, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 rolled off the production line at the
company’s Ulsan Plant, this facility recognised as the birthplace of the Korean
car industry. Here in 1975 Hyundai produced its first independently developed
model the Pony. For the record Hyundai Motor Company was founded in 1967,
building its first car, a Ford Cortina under license, before moving on to its own
car design a year later. I well remember the brand’s arrival in Australia under Alan
Bond’s distribution in 1986 where it became one of our fastest growing brands
with the cheap and cheerful small Excel hatchback. The company snapped up Kia
in the mid-nineties – last year becoming the world’s third biggest producer
delivering 7.1 million vehicles behind Volkswagen with 8.8 million and Toyota
with 10.8 million. I’m David Berthon