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February 19, 2003
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This Week:

• New Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG Makes Debut in Chicago

• Toyota Stages World Premiere of All-New Tundra 'Big Rig' Double Cab Pickup at 2003 Chicago Auto Show

• Avanti Responds to GM Lawsuit Over Studebaker XUV

• Hyundai and Kia Celebrate the Grand Opening of a New $30 Million California-Based Design Center

• 2003 Volkswagen GTI 20th Anniversary Edition Revs Up for Chicago Debut

• GM, Ford Officially Sign Agreement To Develop All-New Front-Wheel-Drive Transmission

• The Volkswagen Group in Asia-Pacific

• 2004 Acura 3.5 RL Debuts at Chicago Auto Show

• American Suzuki Introduces Two New Cars, Mid-Size Verona and Premium Compact Forenza at Chicago Auto Show

• All-New Ford Freestar Minivan To Be Produced At Oakville Assembly Plant

• Global Engine Alliance Selects Michigan for New Production Facility in the U.S.

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Hyundai and Kia Celebrate the Grand Opening of a New $30 Million California-Based Design Center

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. - Mong-Koo Chung, chairman and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corp., gathered with elected officials in Irvine, Calif. to celebrate the grand opening of the Hyundai/Kia Motors Design & Technical Center. The $30 million state-of-the-art facility houses 100 auto designers, engineers, model makers and technicians, many who were responsible for design successes such as Hyundai's Santa Fe sport-utility vehicle and its HCD 6 and HCD 7 concept vehicles, as well as Kia's KCD-1/Slice concept vehicle. The Hyundai and Kia design teams moved from Hyundai's Fountain Valley headquarters to their new 90,000 square foot design and technical center in January 2003. The new facility is fitted with an advanced visualization system from Blue Water Technologies housed in a presentation room with three projection screens and two turntables. Designers and math modelers operate from the latest Alias / Silicon Graphic work stations while clay modelers sculpt new design proposals on six surface plates and operate a 5-axis milling machine with state-of-the-art shop facilities.

Hyundai and Kia selected the City of Irvine for the home of its design and technical center because of both companies' rich history in Orange County, Calif. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in neighboring Fountain Valley, Calif. and Kia Motors America is headquartered in Irvine.

"Kia Motors America was, in essence, born and raised in Irvine, and we look forward to continuing that tradition," said Peter M. Butterfield, president and CEO, Kia Motors America. "The major benefit of this design center is having a California-based design staff that understands how to take automotive trends and make them appealing to U.S. consumers on a bigger scale."

"This new design facility reaffirms Hyundai's commitment toward investing in the U.S. economy as well as its commitment toward the creation of stylish car designs for our U.S. consumers," said Finbarr O'Neill, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "Hyundai and Kia continue to exceed expectations when it comes to car design and our newest design center will echo both companies' innovative spirits."

Also joining the Hyundai and Kia design teams will be Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) which is responsible for all engineering activities in the U.S. for both Hyundai and Kia.

(Feb 12, 2003)