Hyundai Motor Group Wins Automaker of the Year at 2026 AutoTech Awards
Hyundai Motor Group was named Automaker of the Year at the inaugural combined AutoTech Awards and WardsAuto ceremony on June 2, 2026.
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- 2021 and 2024
What Happened
Hyundai Motor Group was named Automaker of the Year at the inaugural combined AutoTech Awards and WardsAuto ceremony on June 2, 2026. The Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige also received a 2026 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX Award at the same ceremony. This marks the first group-level recognition for the Group's technology leadership, building on Hyundai Motor America's OEM of the Year awards in 2021 and 2024.
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The Group has won the award three years in a row.
“This recognition reflects a unified technology ecosystem—from shared research capabilities and coordinated software platforms to an integrated technology strategy—enabling advanced innovations across our three mobility brands: Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.”
Judges cited the Group's consistent excellence, including the three consecutive World Car of the Year wins, a dedicated EV platform, and a lineup that regularly earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ awards and design accolades. The recognition reflects a unified technology ecosystem across the three brands.
Building on this recognition, the Group will continue to advance EV platform performance, safety standards, and design excellence, while accelerating its software-defined vehicle strategy and expanding connected mobility capabilities across global markets. This commitment supports the Group's vision to lead the industry's transition toward intelligent and connected mobility.
Why this matters
The award recognizes Hyundai Motor Group's consistent excellence in EV innovation, safety, and design, following three consecutive World Car of the Year wins. This group-level acknowledgment may boost consumer confidence and highlights the company's leadership in the industry's shift toward intelligent, connected mobility.
Terms in This Story
- Software-defined vehicle (SDV)
- A vehicle whose features and functions are primarily enabled through software, allowing over-the-air updates and new capabilities.
- Connected mobility
- A concept where vehicles are integrated with digital networks and services, enabling features such as real-time traffic information, remote diagnostics, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.
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