It came too fast: Hyundai's US CEO was fired

According to a recent report by Automotive News, Hyundai Motor America CEO Dave Zuchowski was fired for failing to meet internal sales targets. The personnel change took effect immediately.

"We are grateful for Dave's decade-long contributions, especially as we have become a stronger organization under his leadership," acting CEO Flannery said in a statement. "I look forward to working closely with our dealers, subsidiaries, management and hard-working colleagues to realize Hyundai's full potential."

As gasoline prices fall, American car consumers are increasingly turning to crossovers and SUVs, and Hyundai, which relies on small cars as its economic source, is weak in the crossover and SUV segments. The shortage of supply and demand has led to a decline in sales. Although the Hyundai brand survived the Great Recession in the United States and even achieved growth when Zuchowski was the head of sales, it is still difficult to maintain the previous growth rate.

In the first 11 months of this year, Hyundai Motor's U.S. sales were 707,485 vehicles, up 1.3% year-on-year. This data does not include sales of its luxury brand Genesis (1,306 vehicles). In 2015, Hyundai's U.S. sales set a record of 761,710 vehicles, up 5% year-on-year, but compared with the double-digit growth rates in 2010 and 2011, it is still a downward trend.

Zuchowski's eventual successor will be responsible for the development of Genesis in the United States and Hyundai's alternative fuel vehicle push in the United States, including the launch of the Ioniq sub-brand. Hyundai plans to launch 14 alternative fuel vehicles by 2020.

Zuchowski is a 36-year veteran of the auto industry, most recently serving as vice president of sales at Mazda North America. Zuchowski, 58, joined Hyundai in 2007 as a sales executive, was well-respected by dealers, and took over as CEO of Hyundai Motor America in 2014, succeeding John Krafcik, just as Hyundai's growth began to slow.

Sources said Hyundai Motor America's firing of Zuchowski just days before Christmas was inappropriate. The personnel changes made people feel that Hyundai replaced the CEO of the US company quickly, but it seemed normal for the Korean company.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.