GERMANY — Hyundai Motorsport GmbH has inaugurated its new headquarters in Alzenau, Germany. Representatives of Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Motorsport GmbH recently welcomed guests for a glimpse of the new facility. Visitors from Hyundai Motor Headquarters in Korea and from subsidiaries around the world, along with local authorities, stakeholders and partners, were given a comprehensive tour of the building where the team is preparing for Hyundai's return to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2014. The company was officially registered on December 19, 2012 and started full operations at the beginning of 2013, now employing 50 WRC specialists from 11 nations. The Hyundai Motorsport facility, which underlines Hyundai Motor's commitment to Europe, is ideally located in Alzenau which benefits from the transportation links of the Frankfurt Rhine Main region. The 8.200m² building is within a 50km radius of the Hyundai European Technical and Design Center at Russelsheim and Hyundai Motor Europe in Offenbach. Later this year, the Hyundai Motor vehicle test center at the Nürburgring will also be opening nearby. Executive Vice President & COO of Hyundai Motor Company Tak Uk Im said: “This is a historic day for Hyundai Motor Company. Not only are we celebrating the opening of the new home of Hyundai Motorsport, but also demonstrating our commitment to improving the performance of all of our cars.” Hyundai Motorsport President Gyoo-Heon Choi commented: “I'm very proud to officially open Hyundai's new home of motorsport. Hyundai Motorsport acts as a performance engineering platform for the global business as well as a brand platform, helping to raise expectations and perceptions of the brand in a relevant and exciting way.” Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai Motor Group, with more than two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Hyundai Motor — which has seven manufacturing bases outside of South Korea including Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, India, Russia, Turkey and the US — sold 4.4 million vehicles globally in 2012. Hyundai Motor, which employs over 80,000 worldwide, offers a full lineup of products including small to large passenger vehicles, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Hyundai Motor's Middle East headquarters is located in Dubai and is run by Managing Director for the Middle East, Tom Lee. Hyundai's retail network in the GCC and Levant consists of: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia: Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh; UAE, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Hyundai recorded its best ever sales across the whole Middle East region in 2012, selling 305,800 vehicles, an increase of 7.7 percent. The year also saw to another landmark figure, as the Korean manufacturer sold its two millionth car in the region since it began exports in 1976.
