Retiring Hyundai Motor President Biermann Advises "Integration and Cooperation Are Key to Becoming a Leader in Future Vehicles"

On the 12th (local time) at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Albert Biermann, Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, is introducing the high-performance N brand and the i30 N vehicle.

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Albert Biermann, president overseeing research and development (R&D) at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, emphasized the convergence of various fields and partnerships in his retirement letter, stating, "The competition to become a leading smart mobility solutions provider has just begun, and an era of endless competition without a finish line will unfold." Biermann, who was recruited by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun in 2015, is credited with elevating Hyundai's performance by leading the launch of the high-performance N models.

According to industry sources on the 20th, Biermann, who retired on the 16th, revealed in a letter to Hyundai employees, "Starting January next year, I will serve as Executive Technical Advisor at the European Technical Center in R?sselsheim, Germany, and will continue to support you in presenting more competitive hero cars to our customers."

In the letter, Biermann explained that he had informed Chairman Chung of his intention to retire last summer while spending time with his family in Germany and had been preparing for the handover. He added, "When I first came to Korea in early 2015, I was not sure if I could successfully complete the three-year contract period. However, my colleagues warmly welcomed me, and my wife made good friends in our new hometown, Pangyo. Thus, we fell in love with Korea, the Land of the Morning Calm, and its people."

Biermann also encouraged the staff by listing the achievements made together with Hyundai’s R&D employees over the past seven years. He said, "During my time in charge of testing, we personally experienced the potential of close collaboration beyond the silo culture (self-interest of each business unit). We happily dedicated ourselves to developing outstanding driving performance for vehicles like the i30N and Stinger."

He continued, "In the fall of 2018, Chairman Chung offered me the position of head of R&D, and my wife and I decided to extend our time in Korea. Chairman Chung prioritized unified R&D as the top task, and I believe that, together with the R&D executives, we successfully addressed this challenge."

He added, "Recently, we faced manpower shortages and excessive workloads during the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electrification, along with various restrictions due to COVID-19. However, we overcame these challenges through continuous product improvements, passionate commitment to excellent design, the introduction of a new architecture-based organizational system (SOB) for new process operations, and organizational culture innovation centered on Triple A (Anticipation, Adaptation, Agility) based on trust and cooperation."

Biermann particularly emphasized, "Nothing remains unimproved. We have the potential to develop further. To maintain our position as a first mover in the smart mobility solutions field, I reiterate the importance of partnerships across various sectors." He advised, "If seniors and juniors, hardware verification and virtual simulation, application and software development, analysis and design, design and engineering, internal combustion engines and electric vehicles?if all talents at the research center unite to find the best solutions, we can become the best."

Holding a racing driver license, he concluded, "Finally, there is an important success formula to always remember: 'DRIVING STILL MATTERS! (Sit in the driver's seat and feel the car yourself).'" It is reported that he personally drove camouflaged cars during pre-launch test drives in Korea with his wife.