Hyundai Kia Opens New R&D Center - July 17th, 2007
There isn’t a traditional automaker in Detroit that won’t grumble about the Asian competition. However, Hyundai jokes just don’t wash anymore and folks aren’t laughing at the Kias either. In a recent J.D. Power and Associate study, Kia was found to rank second only to Dodge in its ability to build consumer loyalty in the 16 to 35 age bracket. Undoubtedly for young drivers some of the appeal lies in the attractive sticker prices. A Kia Rio, for instance, has an opening MSRP of $11,350.
Building on that already good reputation with young drivers, the company seems set to capitalize on the desires of green car buyers. The Hyundai Kia Automotive Group just opened a new R&D center in Seoul for the express purpose of developing “cleaner, more eco-friendly vehicles.” They dropped about $58 million on the facility and plan to tinker with emissions, hydrogen, electric drive systems, and even end-of-life recycling options.
They intend to live up to the green image in the facility itself which will feature natural light systems, floors fabricated from recycled tires, and even low-water toilets. If the Detroit big boys are wondering why their Asian competitors are doing so well, the explanation lies deeper than lower labor costs and cheaper sticker prices. Carmakers like Hyundai are simply doing what they do better than the traditional American companies <i>and</i> they’re doing a better job of reading market and consumer trends. It’s going to be really interesting to see what comes out of the new Seoul facility.
Posted on July 17th, 2007 by Shorty
Filed under: news |
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