Hyundai, Kia Appoint New R&D Chief
Hyundai and Kia have appointed a new president for their joint research and development division in hopes of restoring the automaker’s reputation after a series of quality issues this year.
Kim Hae-jin will take over as the Korean automakers’ R&D chief and was previously head of the development of engines and transmissions in addition to formerly managing R&D quality control. In April 2013, both automakers recalled nearly 1.7-million vehicles due to potential faults in brake switches. The same issue caused a recall of 600,000 vehicles in South Korea in September.
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Last year, Hyundai spent $1.54 billion on R&D, 1.9 percent of its revenue. Experts believe the Korean automakers need to invest more into R&D in order to become a true innovator in today’s marketplace. In contrast, BMW spent $5.47 billion last year on R&D or 5.2 percent of its revenue.
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[Source: Reuters]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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