Hyundai Motor Company has been named ‘Manufacturer of the Year 2013-2014’ by leading Middle East motoring magazine, Sport Auto.

The recognition marks the progress the company has made on its way to taking the number two position in the region’s car market, said a statement.

Tom Lee, vice president and head of Hyundai’s Africa and Middle East regional headquarters, was presented with the award by editor-in-chief Gerard Saunal, at this year’s Dubai International Motor Show.

Saunal said: “In our view, Hyundai is one of the most progressive manufacturers in the region. The all-round customer experience it now offers, both in terms of the extent of its advanced product line-up and its focus on delivering the highest standards of customer service, has made owning a Hyundai car even more desirable than ever before. Hyundai’s stated aim - to focus on quality rather than quantity – is a bold vision, and we believe that they are taking the right steps to achieve this.”

The key factors to its success include the introduction of the ‘Modern Premium’ brand direction, applied to the development of new cars; and the new ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design philosophy which has brought modern and unique styling to new models such as Elantra, Azera and Santa Fe, he said.

“It is a great honour for Hyundai to receive the inaugural Manufacturer of the Year award from Sport Auto, which reinforces that we are headed in the right direction in our aim to become the most beloved brand in the region,” said Lee.

Sport Auto is a regional leading Arabic motoring magazine and has a distribution that spans the whole of the Middle East. It is headquartered in Dubai, with a number of additional offices in Beirut and Jeddah. - TradeArabia News Service