The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hyundai

  • Hyundai records 391,197 sales in April

    Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker has announced its global sales results for last month, posting a total of 391,197 units sold, up by 11.1 percent from a year earlier.

    The highest growth since December 2014 was led by strong sales of new SUV models – the all-new Santa Fe and Kona – while a recent sales rebound in the Chinese market also largely contributed to the growth.

    Sales in overseas markets totalled 327,409 units, representing an increase of 12.2 percent year-over-year.

    Sales increased significantly as the company’s popular subcompact SUV Kona expanded to key markets and demand remained strong in emerging markets such as Brazil, Russia and India.

    Sales in the Korean market increased by 5.7 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, recording 63,788 units sold.

     

     

  • Hyundai begins vehicle service clinic

    Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited (HMNL) has started Vehicle Service Clinic, urging customers to take advantage of its comprehensive 30-day service campaign to tune-up their vehicles and avoid undue cessations and unwarranted cost implications.

    Its Head of Service, Srinivas Jayaram said the promotional routine vehicle upkeep would help customers appreciate Hyundai driving experience and the dealership’s commitment to the brand.

    He said about 25 per cent discount on value-added services, including 20 per cent discount on mechanical repairs as well as 20 per cent discount on body repair parts and 10 per cent discount on labour charges will be permitted during the campaign, which also offers free 25-point-checkup.

    The sequence of check-up, according to Jayaram, also include free engine diagnosis with report, battery test with report, a/c gas quality, wiper blade replacement, body damage and generous brake assessments.

    Customers could also take advantage of special prices on upholstery cleaning, engine steam wash, wheel alignment and balancing as well as body wax, the HMNL head of service assured.

    “The Hyundai ‘Car Care Clinic’ is a rare opportunity for desiring customers’ to tune-up their vehicles to avoid undue cessations and unwarranted cost implications,” he said.

    He added that the dealership understands the evolving needs and preferences of Hyundai, HMNL’s head of service cautioned that “the service campaign is pertinent to 2015 and prior models, and subject to part availability.”

    While the offer may be accessed at Hyundai facilities in Abuja and Port-Harcourt, customers in and around Lagos are to use the Orile, Ijesha workshops as well as the Hyundai Commercial Vehicle Centre at Isolo.

    “Our obligation at HMNL is to make ownership of Hyundai vehicles an enjoyable experience and we recognize the importance of excellence both in quality of our vehicles and in after sales service,” Jayaram said.

    He said the company has dependably retrained its service technicians in multiple auto repair disciplines and acquaint them extensively in Hyundai cutting-edge and ever changing technology and, “we are proud to say we have some of the best technicians that are trained to handle complex auto repair jobs.”

     

  • Hyundai launches new-generation Accent

    Hyundai has unveiled the fifth generation of its Accent small car in Africa and Middle East markets.

    The auto giant builds on the strengths of previous models with Hyundai’s latest design and engineering innovations while also maintaining Accent’s unbeatable value proposition for buyers.

    The new model features a completely new exterior design and comfortable high-tech interior. More efficient powertrains deliver an outstanding combination of performance and fuel economy, with a choice of 1.4-litre or 1.6-litre engines, including a diesel in some markets, matched to a six-speed transmission in either manual or automatic.

    Other advances include reduced cabin noise and remarkably improved driving dynamics, both helped by a stronger body-shell. The Accent is also slightly longer and wider than the previous model, including an increased distance between the front and rear wheels, giving occupants more leg and shoulder room.

    Hyundai’s Head of Operations for Africa and the Middle East, Mike Song said several key improvements on the previous Accent was made on the new one, which, he said, was already an excellent car and very popular with customers.

    “Design and engineering are completely fresh, ensuring a car that looks superb, is enjoyable to drive, with high levels of safety, and will be economical to own,” he added.

    Accent’s interior continues the modern, confident, sophisticated theme of the exterior. A driver-oriented layout with intuitive controls combines with improved interior roominess, high-quality materials and premium technology features. Premium, soft-touch materials in key points create an inviting and comfortable environment for the driver and passengers.

    Standard safety features include electronic stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes, as well as emergency stop signal, which automatically flashes the brake lights when the driver brakes heavily. Available options include a six-airbag system, static bending headlights to provide better illumination of the road through corners, and auto cruise control.

    The body is stronger than the previous model, with torsional rigidity improved through the increased use of advanced high strength steel and structural adhesives. The New-generation Accent features several improvements to the front side members and inner side sill for improved collision protection. The front crumple zones have been increased, front side airbags have been upgraded, and reinforcements have been added to improve the car’s collision energy management performance, especially in small overlap crashes.

     

     

  • Hyundai to launch nine models

    Hyundai is planning a major product offensive with the launch of nine models, including an electric vehicle, over the next three years.

    The launches will include two face lifts, two new segment vehicles, four full model changes and an electric vehicle from 2018 to 2020.

    The two new segment models include a much-awaited small car positioned between the Eon and Grand i10 to be launched this year, and a sub-4 m compact Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) during the first half of next year.

    Hyundai Motor India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Y K Koo said: “The small car will be a contemporary, family-oriented car. We are yet to finalise the name though there is a strong suggestion to name it Santro.”

    This year, there will be two face lifts, of which one (new 2019 Elite i20) has already been launched at Auto Expo and another will happen before June. Electric vehicles are also part of Hyundai India’s agenda and it is contemplating introducing an electric model  next year.

    It is also analysing whether to introduce an electric sedan or SUV. The company showcased its electric sedan Ioniq in the Auto Expo 2018 and electric SUV Kona at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month.

     

     

     

  • Hyundai sales drop 8.1 per cent

    Hyundai Motor has said  its February sales fell by 8.1 per cent on-year due to fewer working days and weak demand.

    Hyundai Motor sold 310,148 vehicles in February, compared with 337,544 units a year earlier, the company said in a statement.

    Domestic sales declined by 5.5 per cent to 50,200 units last month from 53,113 a year ago and overseas sales also dropped by 8.6 per cent to 259,948 from 284,431 during the same period, it said.

    “The February sales were affected by fewer working days as the Lunar New Year holiday fell on the third week of last month,” the company said. The traditional holiday fell in January in 2017.

    In the January-February period, overall sales declined by 4 per cent to 649,776 units from 676,591 a year earlier, it said.

     

  • Firms sue Hyundai over ‘defective automobile’

    Firms sue Hyundai over ‘defective automobile’

    Two companies, Media Seal Limited (formerly Starcom Media Services Limited) and Bytesize Limited, have sued Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited at the Lagos High Court  in Ikeja for allegedly selling defective automobile to them.

    Along with Mr. Ayo Oluwatosin, they are seeking a declaration that a Hyundai Grand Santa Fe GLS 3.3L, with Chassis number: KMHSN81EDFU097184 and Engine No: G6DFEA34538 sold to them by Hyundai Motors is not fit for the purpose for which it was bought.

    They are also praying the court for an order that Hyundai Motors refunds N15,595,000 being the amount paid for the car.

    The claimants are also praying for an order that they be paid N50million for alleged breach of contract, and another N100million as general damages.

    The claimants sough an order compelling the defendant to pay 15 per cent interest to the sums from the day the suit was filed till judgment is given, and 25 per cent interest from the day judgment is given till the sum is liquidated.

    In their statement of claim filed by their counsel, Wale Ogunade, the claimants said they bought four vehicles from Hyundai on June 1, 2016. The defective car, they said, was bought on October 5, 2016.

    The claimants said the cars were delivered to them on October 6 and June 2, 2016.

    According to them, when the vehicle was driven between October 21 and 26, 2016, they discovered that it had a brake problem, which they brought to Hyundai Motors’ attention.

    Oluwatosin said he met with the company’s representatives, where Hyundai Motors allegedly demanded N4million to replace the defective car.

    Hyundai Motors denied culpability in the transaction. It claimed that it conducted extensive pre-delivery test on every component parts of the vehicles.

    The defendant said all the vehicles were found to be in perfect condition before they were handed over to customers.

  • Hyundai unveils locally assembled Sonata

    Hyundai unveils locally assembled Sonata

    Hyundai has unveiled the remodelled midsized Sonata family sedan with standard and accessible features.

    Assembled locally at the Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited plant in Lagos, the 2018 Sonata equipped with proximity key with push-button start, power driver’s seat as well as shiftronic gear system with courtesy door lamps.

    The car  is also equipped with rear parking sensors/back warning camera, engine immobiliser and perceptible front grill among others.

    Hyundai Motors Nigeria said “It has enhanced the Sonata’s package with better value proposition to keep it fresh against increasing competent rivals.”

    Its Head of Sales and Marketing, Gaurav Vashisht told auto reporters at the launch of the new Sonata that almost every exterior element of the car has been reworked, beginning from the forward A-pillars.

    “Unlike its predecessor, the front end of the car for instance, has become more muscular, blending with Hyundai’s new cascading grille design with an aggressive lower facia, new headlights and a reshaped hood,” Vashisht explained.

    He said Hyundai has also thoroughly reworked the rear side, which now incorporates new trunked-lid, taillights and rear bumper with a marginally adapted interior that plagiarizes high-end cars’ centre stack though retaining its intuitive layout knobs and controls of higher quality feel and a new three-spoke steering wheel.

    “When it comes to delivering everything you would expect from a midsize family sedan, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata does not disappoint. It has a spacious interior with worthy seats and a long list of standard features and well-laid out controls that reassures on smooth ride,” he added.

    The 2018 Hyundai Sonata, he said, is available in six trim levels, but only the Elite SE 2.0L and Elite SE 2.4L variants, which are already in designated HMNL showrooms, will be marketed locally.

    Standard features on both models include front wheel drive, a rear lip spoiler, cruise control, full power accessories, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, automatic control/rear air-conditioning vents, luxury leather seats and a 60/40 split-folding seatback.

    Technology features however include Bluetooth connectivity, a CD player, radio, automatic headlights, rearview camera, a five-inch LCD display, USB port and an auxiliary audio input and Hyundai Security System.

    While both variants are powered by a four-cylinder engine; the 2.0-Litre variant is mated to a 157ps @ 6200rpm and the 2.4-Litre is fused to a 171ps @ 6000rpm. Both models are however, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission that raises the EPA fuel economy numbers to 23mpg highway from 22/31mpg.

    The SE 2.0-Litre model is on the other hand, mounted on a 17″ Alloy wheels while the SE 2.4-Litre seats on 18″ Alloy wheels.

    Hyundai in its typical interior design precision leaves no one in doubt as it ingeniously detailed the Sonata’s cabin. The materials and built quality for instance are at par with the class, donning plusher door trim, well-padded and supportive leather seats with additional cabin accents for a more premium feel.

  • Firm sues Hyundai for allegedly selling defective car

    Firm sues Hyundai for allegedly selling defective car

    A firm, Starcom Media, has sued Korean automobile giant, Hyundai Motors, at a Lagos High Court for allegedly selling a defective car to it.

    The firm said it bought a brand new Hyundai Grand Santa Fe Luxury car on October 5,  last year.

    Six days after purchase, the vehicle allegedly developed brake failure, an ‘auto hold’ light kept blinking on the dashboard, while there was a loose bolt on the rear left wheel.

    Starcom Media’s counsel, Wale Ogunade of Wale Ogunade Chambers, said his clients became suspicious on noticing that the mileage on the dashboard read 1,800km, suggesting that the vehicle might have been previously used by a third party in Nigeria.

    Following Hyundai Motors’s alleged refusal to accept responsibility, Starcom Media opted for legal action.

    It approached the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, demanding a refund.

    Hyundai Motors initially denied culpability, claiming to have conducted extensive pre-delivery assessment on every component of the vehicle and certifying it okay before delivery.

    The company, however, accepted to service the vehicle for two years or upon it attaining 40,000km. The agreement was signed by parties on March 23.

    Contrary to the terms of agreement, Starcom Media alleged that the vehicle was delivered on April 19, 20 days after the promised delivery date.

    The plaintiff said less than a month after the delivery, the brake problem reoccurred on May 17.

    Ogunade said the development was symptomatic of how Nigerians are ripped off by foreign companies operating in the country. “That category of vehicles has been rejected even in South Korea but somehow, they found their way into Nigeria. A vehicle of this price attracts at least six months warranty or a refund if found defective.

    “Unfortunately, in this case, all attempts by our client to get a refund, replacement or total repair has proved abortive. The vehicle has since been parked with its value depreciating by the day,” the lawyer said.

     

  • Hyundai premieres Kona SUV

    Hyundai premieres Kona SUV

    Hyundai has unveiled the latest vehicle in its expanding line-up of stylish Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) – the Kona compact SUV.

    With a strong and impactful design, the Kona is designed to appeal to modern customers with active lifestyles.

    The Kona joins Tucson, Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport in a growing line-up of Hyundai SUVs that feature progressive design with high interior refinement and spaciousness.

    The Kona offers uncompromised individuality and innovative features, with a bold, daring image that hints at the future design direction of Hyundai Motor’s next generation of SUV models.

    Hyundai Motor Company Vice Chairman, Euisun Chung, said: “With the Kona, we have created a stylish and highly functional compact SUV, perfectly suited to the needs of customers who pursue challenging and action-filled lifestyles. We aim to set new standards for the compact SUV segment, with appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading safety features.”

    The aggressive body styling emphasises the car’s well-proportioned, dynamic silhouette. Its low and wide stance, long wheelbase and short overhangs ensure sporty, nimble handling, in addition to delivering superior driving stability at high speed. It is also the first SUV to adopt Hyundai’s new signature design feature, the Cascading Grille, featuring a sporty mesh pattern, flanked by exceptional wing-type fenders that dominate the front design.

    The new Kona is offered with a combination of advanced gasoline and diesel engines of various power outputs – dependent on the market. These include a two-litre MPI Atkinson-cycle engine producing 149PS, the Gamma 1.6T-GDI engine boasting 177PS, and a highly efficient 1.0 T-GDI turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 120PS.

    It boasts a suite of sophisticated technologies, paired with user-friendly functionality to ensure driver and passengers can stay informed and entertained.

    The premium infotainment system offers various advanced connectivity features, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay where specified, with a 5-, 7- or 8-inch display (offered as standard or option dependent on the market).

    In a first for the segment, the Kona features smartphone wireless charging. Available as an option with all Kona models, customers simply place a compatible smartphone on the wireless charging interface, located in the center console storage, to easily recharge without the need for cables.

    At the world premiere of the all-new Kona, Hyundai Motor unveiled a special edition that shares the name of Marvel’s heroic and powerful character – Iron Man.

    With greater width (+40mm), the Kona Iron Man Special Edition presents a confident stance, while special LEDs are applied to the headlights, which sit beneath a matt gray hood, embellished with red and gold accents.

    The Kona Iron Man Special Edition’s dynamic exterior is further complemented by a 19-inch directional wheel badged with an Iron Man Mask in the center, as well as off-road tires 716mm in outside diameter.

    The special edition will go on display at Hyundai Motor’s Motorstudio in Seoul, Korea, for a month following its global reveal.

    The Kona will go on sale in Korea later this month, followed by North America and Europe.

  • Hyundai recalls one million vehicles

    Hyundai recalls one million vehicles

    Hyundai is finding itself in a tough spot after the company announced that it will recall close to a million (978,000) of its Sonata cars in the United States. The underlying problem with this recall was a seat belt glitch that has led to one minor injury, according to a report filed to U.S. regulators last week.
    The recall campaign is expected to begin in early April, and it will involve Sonata midsize cars from 2011 to 2014 model years and Sonata hybrid models from the 2011 to 2015 model years.
    Reportedly, the Korean automaker said in government documents that a fastener for a seat belt anchor may not have been fully latched during assembly.If that happens the belts can detach.
    The problem was discovered in September when a driver reported that the seat belt for the front passenger in a 2014 Sonata came loose in a collision.
    Recently offsetting this bad news was an incredible month of sales. Hyundai reported that it had its best February ever, with sales totalling just over 53,000 for the month.
    The company’s Vice President of National Sales Derrick Hatami, said the Santa Fe and Elantra families continued their strong performances in February, up 58 per cent and 33 per cent respectively.
    Hyundai Motor America sells and services Hyundai vehicles through 835 dealerships nationwide. All new Hyundai vehicles sold in the United States are covered by the Hyundai Assurance programme, which includes a five-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty and five years of complimentary roadside assistance.