Hyundai Motor names 4 new presidents in year-end reshuffle

Hyundai Motor Group has named four new presidents during its year-end reshuffle of top management, with a keen focus on enhancing its research and manufacturing capabilities to drive an era of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the carmaker said Thursday. Manfred Harrer, former executive vice president at the carmaker, has been promoted to president and head of R&D. Since joining the carmaker in 2024, he has improved overall vehicle performance, according to the group. “The new R&D chief will enhance Hyundai Motor Group’s technological competitiveness for its successful transformation into an SDV maker,” a Hyundai official said. The carmaker, however, did not fill in the position of former President Song Chang-hyun, who led the carmaker’s advanced vehicle platform division. Song mapped out the carmaker’s SDV strategy, but he stepped down from the position on Dec. 5 apparently due to the firm’s delayed progress in autonomous driving. On the hardware front, the carmaker also promoted Jung Jun-cheul, former executive vice president and head of manufacturing solutions, to presiden