Jose Munoz, Nissan Motor Co.’s Chief Performance Officer, speaks at the 2018 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, on January 15, 2018.
Andrew Haller | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Detroit – Hyundai Motor Company Jose Munoz was named Thursday as the South Korean automaker’s next president and CEO, effective Jan. 1.
Munoz, an automotive industry veteran who rose through the company’s North American ranks, will take over his current role. President and CEO Zhang Zaixunhe was promoted to vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Division.
“José is a proven leader with extensive global experience and is the ideal person to lead Hyundai Motor amid increased competitiveness and business uncertainty,” Chang said in a statement. “As As recently outlined at our CEO Investor Day, we have a clear vision for Hyundai to create a future centered on mobility and energy. Together with Jose and the rest of our leadership team, Hyundai The future of cars is very bright.
Munoz, a Spaniard and U.S. citizen, will become Hyundai Motor’s first non-Korean CEO.
Munoz currently serves as Hyundai Motor Global Chief Operating Officer and president and CEO of Hyundai and its luxury vehicle North American operations. Genesis Brand. He joined Hyundai from Nissan in 2019 after working for the Japanese automaker for 15 years. He has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 2022.
Under Munoz, Hyundai’s North American operations, including Genesis, have flourished. Its sales have increased 16% since 2019, with approximately 801,200 units sold last year. Hyundai’s products have also won many prestigious awards and industry honors.
It has also grown its U.S. operations, including a $12.6 billion commitment from Hyundai and its partners to build new “Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America” production facility and two battery joint ventures in Georgia.
“Success in this challenging industry requires excellence across the entire value chain, from design and engineering to manufacturing, sales and service, and an outstanding team that can do it every step of the way,” Muñoz said. “I am excited and motivated by the challenges ahead and hope to continue Hyundai’s growth trajectory and focus on exceeding customer expectations. This is truly a great time to be working with Hyundai.”
The company has not named Munoz’s successor.
