Hyundai chair Chung Euisun returns to Beijing Auto Show after eight-year absence

Hyundai Motor Executive Chair Chung Euisun returned to the Beijing auto show on April 29, his first appearance there in eight years. (koreaherald.com) His visit to Auto China 2026 came as Hyundai tries to rebuild in China, the world’s largest vehicle market, after years of declining sales. (koreaherald.com) The company used the Beijing show last week to unveil the Ioniq V, its first all-electric Ioniq model tailored for China. Hyundai also said it will launch 20 new models in China over the next five years. (hyundai.com) (reuters.com) Hyundai’s China retreat has been stark. The automaker once operated six plants in China and now runs three, including two in Beijing and one in Sichuan. (koreaherald.com) The company sold 1.14 million vehicles in China in 2016 before sales slumped after 2017, when a diplomatic dispute over a U.S. missile-defense system damaged Korean brands’ standing. (koreaherald.com) This year’s Beijing show also looked different on the floor. Organizers said Auto China 2026 is using two venues for the first time and covers 380,000 square meters, with 1,451 vehicles, 181 world premieres and 71 concept cars. (beijingautoshow.com) Suppliers that once stayed in secondary areas moved into the main halls alongside automakers. The official exhibitor list includes Huawei Qiankun, CATL, Bosch, Horizon Robotics and other software, battery and driver-assistance companies. (beijingautoshow.com) (cnevpost.com) BigGo Finance reported CATL took a 1,500-square-meter stand at the entrance to Hall W4, while Huawei’s technical exhibition area exceeded BYD’s footprint. (finance.biggo.com) Reuters reported Hyundai is expanding cooperation in China with battery maker CATL and autonomous-driving developer Momenta as part of its localization push. (reuters.com) Chung’s return put Hyundai’s China reset and the show’s new pecking order in the same frame: foreign carmakers are still on stage, but batteries, software and assisted-driving systems are now taking equal billing. (koreaherald.com) (finance.biggo.com)