Hyundai Fires Its US CEO
Hyundai Motor America has let go of its CEO Dave Zuchowski, claiming that he failed to meet internal sales objectives.
The decision, which is effective immediately, puts Jerry Flannery, the general counsel and executive vice president as the interim CEO until a successor is chosen.
Dave Zuchowski joined Hyundai as U.S. sales chief in 2007 and took over the CEO position at the start of 2014. Early on in Zuchowski’s career at Hyundai, sales were climbing thanks to small car sales, but the brand has struggled to maintain its growth rate thanks to the large bump in crossover and SUV sales in America.
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Through November of this year, Hyundai sales were up by 1.3 percent in the U.S., a small increase when you consider the double-digit growth the brand saw in 2010 and 2011.
Zuchowski is a 36-year veteran of the automotive industry, service as the vice president of sales and field operations at Mazda North America before moving to Hyundai.
Hyundai’s new CEO will face a number of challenges, including getting the brand’s new alternative-fuel vehicles into customers’ driveways and launching the Genesis luxury brand in the U.S.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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BMW CEO should be fired if anything. He has resided over a 10% year over year decline in sales; DESPITE the industry's largest incentives which average $6,279 per vehicle
Thats what happens when you dont position yourself right in the market... hyundai's line up is weekening. It only has a hand full of models that are good... They are also making some very bad moves aswell. They should have brought their current models up to par with the genesis and equis. By seperating the genesis and equis their brand momentium is stagnating and genesis is far to week to stand on its own as a brand. Its also alienating its current market aswell with cookie cutter brand names and now adding weezing turbos to a sports car... The coupe is going to loose its throttle responce, it took them 4-5 years to fully work the bugs out of the car and they are killing it off... The usless tiberon is coming back as as FWD BS again based on the elantra platform... IMHO right now it looks like im leaving the brand after my first car with them... Hope the new CEO knows what they are doing and can fix this mess...