Leading the way involves making investments in today and tomorrow. For Hyundai, that means maintaining one of the most technologically advanced and sophisticated manufacturing facilities in the world in Montgomery, Alabama.

 

It also means committing the resources to continue designing the great vehicles of the future, which is why Hyundai dedicated $30 million to build the world’s most advanced design, research and testing facility in California.

 

Modeled on Hyundai’s home design facility in Korea, teams working at the California design and research center are focused on creating the next generation of Hyundai vehicles especially for the North American market.

 

The 4,300-acre facility provides Hyundai engineers with state-of-the-art visualization, graphics and clay-modeling technologies to aid in vehicle design. When prototypes are created, they are tested on the facility’s 6.4-mile oval track and road course, which includes a paved hill and several special surface roads.

 

Demonstrating its commitment to world-leading design, Hyundai recently announced Christopher Chapman as Chief Designer at the Hyundai Design Center where he will be responsible for new-vehicle design and concept design.

 

Chapman comes to Hyundai from BMW where he served, most recently, as director of automotive design. After joining BMW in 1994, he was involved in developing many of the brand’s most advanced and sophisticated cars.

 

"With over 22 years of experience in the industry working on esteemed automotive brands, Chris provides a level of talent that will help further our design portfolio," said SukGeun Oh, Head of Design and Senior Executive Vice President of Hyundai Design Center. "We are thrilled to have Christopher Chapman as Chief Designer for Hyundai and look forward to continuing the strong momentum of our vehicle designs."

 

Chapman will oversee teams of designers and engineers who will work together to predict future trends and then produce the vehicles that will make those trends a reality. Beginning with a simple sketch in colored pencil, Hyundai engineers will develop and test every aspect of vehicle design from aerodynamics, to construction materials, to engine design, to color, to ergonomics used in interior design.

 

Hyundai is bringing the future of automotive design to a Hyundai showroom—and your garage.