South korea: Hyundai Motor Group has been named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential companies of 2025. It was listed in the Leaders category for the Time 100 Companies list released on Thursday (U.S. time), which also included other prominent companies such as Duolingo, LinkedIn, Penguins Random House, Prada Group, and Anthropic.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hyundai is the only South Korean company included in this year's list, marking the group's first appearance on the ranking since its affiliate Kia Corp. made the list in 2023. Time magazine's editors select 100 companies based on impact, innovation, ambition, and success, using suggestions and applications from various sectors, surveys of its contributors and correspondents worldwide, and advice from external experts.
Time magazine described Hyundai as an "automotive dark horse," emphasizing its rapid growth driven by aggressive investment in eco-friendly vehicles and a timely response to consumer preferences. "Hyundai continues to prove that its rise to the top ranks of global automakers -- it was the third-largest automaker in 2024 -- was no fluke," the magazine stated. The publication noted that while Hyundai once had a subpar reputation in the U.S., its sales are now surging upward, with the Kia and Hyundai brands earning accolades for new electric and hybrid vehicles.
Additionally, the magazine highlighted Hyundai's strategic efforts to navigate U.S. tariffs, including its recent $21 billion investment in the United States by 2028. "Hyundai's American roots continue to deepen," the report concluded.