Hyundai Gears Up to Drive 2010 FIFA World Cup

SYDNEY – May 25, 2010: With only 22 days to go until the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Hyundai Motor Company is geared up to deliver hundreds of vehicles for ground transportation at the world’s biggest sporting event in South Africa next month.

Hyundai will hand over 609 passenger cars/vans and 32 Hyundai Universe Express Noble luxury coaches to be used by FIFA officials, national teams, members of the organising committee, referees and media representatives throughout the tournament.

Official team transportation for the 32 qualifying nations will be a luxury coach fleet, each proudly adorned with their nations team colours, flags and the winning slogans of the ‘Be There with Hyundai’ competition, a unique global initiative conducted by Hyundai calling for the public to submit slogans for their national team buses.

The right-hand drive Hyundai Universe Express Nobel coaches were specially manufactured for the games, and will transport the players, coaching staff and support teams to every game and to official functions.

A handover ceremony took place at ‘Soccer City’ in Johannesburg, with Mr. Sean S.H. Kim, Senior Vice President of Hyundai Motor’s Marketing Division presenting a symbolic oversized ‘key to the fleet’ to FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke in front of a display representing the impressive fleet of vehicles.

Hyundai Motor Company is proud of its 11-year strong association with FIFA as the official automotive supplier to all FIFA-sanctioned events globally, which currently extends through to the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil.

“We are delighted to partner with FIFA as official automotive supplier during this historic football tournament,” said Oliver Mann, Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s Marketing Director. “As the world’s largest sporting event, this is an exceptional opportunity for Hyundai Motor Company to showcase our extensive range of passenger vehicles, and to raise awareness of our brand to a global audience.”

In addition to the delivery of cars, Hyundai will operate a 24-hour emergency fleet support office, and deploy a team of 80 Hyundai expert technical staff to be on stand-by throughout the games.