"Mobility is Hyundai Motor's Unique DNA," Chairman Chung Eui-sun Encourages Employees

'Pony-ui Sigan' Exhibition Opens
Brand Heritage Project
First Held Domestically Following Italy
Reflecting on the Spirit of Challenge During Pony Development

"Today's achievements exist because many people worked hard during the development of the Pony. Therefore, I thought it would be good for us to accurately understand the past and prepare for the future."

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun responded this way to reporters' questions about the significance of the 'Time of the Pony' exhibition opening ceremony held on the 7th. The event reflected on the Pony, Korea's first independently developed car, and he clarified that it was prepared both to communicate with the public and to encourage internal employees.

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun is speaking at the Pony Time exhibition event held at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul on the 7th.

The automotive and mobility industries have become battlegrounds for cutting-edge technology, making competition fiercer than ever before. In this situation, rather than focusing solely forward, Chairman Chung explained the purpose was to "ask fundamental questions about the company's reason for existence and what direction it should take, and to find answers."

He said, "Chairman Chung Ju-yung rebuilt roads on a devastated land, Chairman Chung Se-young made cars on those roads, and Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo achieved technological independence and completed all product lines to establish a global brand presence," adding, "Our founding and growth story specialized in mobility is a unique DNA of Hyundai that cannot be found in any other car company worldwide."

Exhibition view of 'Pony's Time' held at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul

The Hyundai Pony was born in 1974 amid poor development conditions and competition from advanced companies. Until then, Korea only assembled and sold foreign car bodies and parts. Since new car development had never been attempted in Korea, Hyundai employees sought help everywhere. The design was Italian, the platform and production technology were Japanese, and mass production preparations followed British methods.

Kang Myung-han, former head of Hyundai's Ulsan plant who contributed to the localization of the Pony engine, wrote, "Though I may not be in this world when Korea becomes a developed country far in the future, (omitted) I believed someone would recognize that I worked for a better future, and I urged myself to steadfastly walk the difficult path before us."

Chairman Chung Euisun of Hyundai Motor Group

Earlier, Hyundai held the 'Hyundai Reunion' event in Italy last month and unveiled a restored model of the Pony Coupe, which had only been produced as a concept model in the past. This Pony exhibition is a continuation of revisiting the brand's heritage. For this event, paper restoration experts were commissioned to restore vehicle blueprints and various documents from the Pony's development period, and the 'Retrace Series,' containing behind-the-scenes stories from the development, was published. This series will continue to be released for other models in the future.

The exhibition, held for about two months at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul, features retrospective materials from Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Pony's designer and head of Italdesign, and the high-performance hydrogen fuel cell concept car N Vision 74, inspired by the Pony Coupe's design. There is also a space highlighting Chairman Chung Ju-yung's humanistic spirit. Many key affiliate presidents attended the event, including Chairman Chung, Hyundai Motor presidents Jang Jae-hoon, Song Chang-hyun, Kim Geol, Jos? Mu?oz, Kia president Song Ho-sung, and Hyundai Mobis president Cho Sung-hwan. Former executives who played key roles in the Pony's development, such as Kim Noe-myeong, Lee Soo-il, and Seo Chang-myeong, as well as overseas partners from the Pony's export period, were also present.

Jang Jae-hoon, President of Hyundai Motor Company, is speaking at the opening ceremony of the Pony Time Exhibition on the 7th.

President Jang Jae-hoon said, "The 'Retrace Series' being published this time means tracing our journey of 'for people' and 'innovation through bold challenges,' starting from the founder and continuing to the present," adding, "This history will serve as a compass for Hyundai to live today and move toward tomorrow."

Pony's Time Exhibition Venue

The publication 'Retrace Series,' which systematically documents Hyundai Motor Company's journey, features (from left) the 'Retrace Collection' and 'Retrace Magazine'