Hyundai Motor Appoints Don Romano as President and CEO
In March 2025, Hyundai Motor Firm Australia (HMCA) introduced the appointment of Don Romano as the brand new President and CEO. His major goal is to deal with the model’s declining gross sales and provoke a turnaround over the following 2-3 years.
Hyundai’s gross sales have seen a gradual decline since hitting over 100,000 automobile gross sales between 2014 and 2016. By 2023, gross sales dropped to 75,000 and additional decreased to 71,000 in 2024. Notably, battery electrical autos accounted for under 3.7% of Hyundai’s 2024 gross sales, which included 2,665 models of the Kona EV, Ioniq 5, and Ioniq 6.
Throughout a press convention introducing the Hyundai Inster, the corporate’s smallest and most inexpensive EV, Romano expressed his dedication to reversing the gross sales pattern, stating, “to not go proper as much as 100,000, however to begin rising once more.”
Romano brings a decade of expertise from his function as President and CEO of Hyundai Auto Canada, the place he led the corporate in changing into Canada’s prime mainstream vendor of electrical autos.
Regardless of the latest launch of the Inster, Romano indicated that it’s unlikely to dominate EV gross sales. The Kona EV and Ioniq 5 will stay the model’s prime sellers attributable to their broader attraction and family-friendly options.
Surprisingly, Hyundai’s technique to spice up gross sales in Australia won’t considerably depend on its electrical automobile lineup. The Ioniq 5 is presently in twentieth place for EV gross sales, with solely 299 models bought by the tip of April 2025, whereas the Kona EV ranks twenty fifth with 243 gross sales.
When in comparison with rivals, Hyundai’s figures seem modest. For instance, Kia’s EV5 has been averaging 350-400 gross sales a month, and the smaller Kia EV3 bought 336 models in its second month in the marketplace.
Rising Chinese language manufacturers are additionally making vital strides available in the market. Geely, for example, bought 324 models of the EX5 in April, which affords aggressive pricing with the Hyundai Inster.
To raise gross sales and adjust to authorities necessities, Hyundai plans to give attention to hybrid and plug-in hybrid autos, making certain ample provide to fulfill demand. Romano famous, “We’re seeing progress within the HEV segments, whereas the BEV segments are flat to declining… Our greatest play proper now could be to give attention to HEVs to construct credit."
Moreover, Hyundai goals to boost buyer expertise by way of improved servicing and guarantee choices. There are discussions underway to transition to a 7-year guarantee, as the present 5-year provide is changing into much less aggressive in comparison with the 8 to 10 years of another producers.
Wanting forward, Hyundai’s electrical automobile lineup will develop with the introduction of the 3-row Ioniq 9 in late 2025, which guarantees ample area and opulent options. An up to date Genesis GV60 can even launch in Australia by the tip of 2025, that includes a bigger battery and revamped inside.
For efficiency fanatics, the anticipated Ioniq 6 N is anticipated to debut in early 2026, constructing on the profitable components of the Ioniq 5 N whereas introducing new options.
In regards to the Creator
Tim Eden has over 20 years of expertise within the IT business, spending 14 years as a community engineer and web site reliability engineer at Google Australia. A passionate advocate for electrical autos and renewable power, he’s devoted to educating others about adopting these transformative applied sciences.
