Hyundai Way

Hyundai Pulls World Cup Ad After Catholic Outcry

Hyundai has pulled a World Cup-themed TV ad after an outcry from Catholic advocates who called the spot sacrilegious and offensive. The 30-second ad, which aired during the the England-USA soccer match on Saturday, features a church in Argentina that apparently worships soccer -- and more specifically soccer legend Diego Maradona.

The ad spot depicts a church service with religiously charged imagery, including a soccer ball with a crown of thorns and worshipers kneeling as they receive pizza for communion.

"All over the world, soccer is almost a religion," intones the spot's narrarator, actor Jeff Bridges, "but for the members of one church in Argentina, it actually is."

Critics complain that Hyundai mocks the Eucharist, which Catholics believe to be the body of Christ, by showing “worshippers” on their knees receiving slices of pizza rather than the communion host.

Hyundai said it meant no offense but rather intended to humorously connect the "passion of soccer fans with owner loyalty."
 

Sonata marks 5 million in worldwide sales

South Korea's automaker Hyundai Motor Co said it has sold more than 5 million units of its mid-size Sonata sedan worldwide, a feat achieved 25 years after the first Sonata was rolled out in 1985.

Some 2.7 million units of various Sonata models, from the very first Sonata to the latest sixth-generation Sonata, locally known as the Sonata YF, were sold here while the rest were sold overseas, including 1.3 million units in the United States.

"The Sonata is the very history of South Korea's mid-size sedans that enjoyed the great affection of customers for the past 25 years, even called the best sedan of South Korea," a Hyundai executive said.

The Sonata is only the third South Korean vehicle to reach accumulated global sales of 5 million units, following the Accent and the Avante, both also by Hyundai Motor, the company said.

Sonata sales nearly double in May

Hyundai sold almost twice as many Alabama-built Sonatas in May compared to a year ago, as the redesigned sedan continued to be in high demand among buyers.

Last month, Hyundai sold 21,195 Sonatas, a 92 percent spike from May 2009, the company said today in its U.S. sales report.

“For the third straight month, our all-new Sonata is the third-best selling mid-size car in the country in retail sales, well ahead of strong rivals such as Nissan Altima, Chevy Malibu and Ford Fusion,” said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s vice present of national sales. “Sonata is the number one researched car at Edmunds.com for the eleventh straight week and consumers love Sonata’s breakthrough design, 35 mile-per-gallon fuel economy, and lower depreciation than Honda Accord.”

Hyundai's U.S. sales rose to 49,045 vehicles in May, up 33% from May 2009. The double-digit growth in sales were led by Sonatas and Tucsons. May marks the seventh month in a row of market gains for the Korean auto maker.

Hyundai Sonata received AutoPacific President's Award

The all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata has earned a number of accolades since its launch earlier this year. Automotive consulting firm AutoPacific added yet another to Sonata's resume, honoring the new sedan with the first-ever President's Award in recognition of its record-breaking performance in a recent study.


AutoPacific researched satisfaction ratings collected from 975 drivers of the all-new i45 over 48 separate categories ranging from the basics of comfort and convenience, to performance and environmental friendliness.

With a final score of 775 from a possible 1000, the Sonata뭩 unique styling was rated as close to perfect and was a key influence in its overall superior performance and owner approval rating.

The results were outstanding, with Sonata receiving magnificent reviews and much praise from the group, exceeding the expectations of AutoPacific, and setting new benchmarks for customer satisfaction.

"Quite frankly, we were blown away by the results," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "The sheer magnitude of the 2011 Sonata's score made recognition necessary. With a score of 775 out of 1,000, the Sonata exceeded everyone's expectations."