MotorTrend has honored Hyundai Motor Company President and CEO José Muñoz as its 2025 Person of the Year, placing him at the top of its prestigious 50-person 2025 MotorTrend Power List.
According to MotorTrend, “José Muñoz steps into the history books as the first non-Korean to lead the conglomerate that includes Hyundai and Genesis and has been a driving force, leading Hyundai through years of record growth in North American sales, market share, revenue, and profitability. Muñoz has more than earned his top spot on our Power List, and he shows no signs of slowing down or making major missteps.”
The 2025 MotorTrend Power List also features key Hyundai leaders, including Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair (2023 Person of the Year); SangYup Lee, Hyundai Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design; Luc Donckerwolke, Hyundai Motor Group Chief Creative Officer; Claudia Marquez, Hyundai Motor America Chief Operating Officer; and Karim Habib, Head of KIA Global Design and the KIA Design Center.
“I am extremely honored to be recognized among such a talented group of industry leaders,” said Muñoz. “This recognition is due to the vision and support of our Executive Chair, the hard-working women and men of Hyundai, our outstanding dealer partners, our customers and so many others who work tirelessly for Hyundai and Genesis in this competitive and dynamic industry. It’s a great time to be with Hyundai!”
MotorTrend further stated, “The Hyundai brand, once primarily known for value and affordability, has evolved into a name synonymous with quality, strong value, and the prestige to justify the launch of the Genesis luxury division. We’ve been so impressed with Hyundai Motor Group’s recent innovations that we named the Genesis GV70 the 2022 MotorTrend SUV of the Year and the Hyundai IONIQ 5 our 2023 SUV of the Year.”
Under José Muñoz’s leadership, Hyundai has delivered consecutive record-breaking results, contributing to Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) becoming the world’s third-largest automaker. A strong proponent of investing in emerging technologies and strategic partnerships, Muñoz is committed to making transportation safer and more sustainable. His extensive experience in navigating complex industry challenges has solidified his reputation as a transformative leader in the automotive world.
José Muñoz attributes Hyundai’s success to the leadership of Executive Chair Euisun Chung and his “Progress for Humanity” vision, which focuses on smart cities, electrification, advanced air mobility, autonomous driving, robotics, artificial intelligence, and a hydrogen economy.
Muñoz has played a key role in Hyundai and Genesis’ product renaissance, driving growth in sales, market share, and dealer profitability while earning industry recognition. He has also spearheaded major capacity expansions, including a $12.6 billion investment in a new Hyundai Motor Group assembly plant and two battery joint ventures in Georgia, as well as capital investments in Alabama, Michigan, and California. Since entering the U.S., HMG has invested $20.5 billion, contributing to the creation of over 570,000 American jobs.
José Muñoz joined Hyundai Motor Company in 2019 as President and Global COO, as well as President and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America, leading consecutive record sales. In 2022, he was appointed to Hyundai’s Board of Directors with expanded oversight of Europe, India, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific, while also managing global sales, service, and product planning.
Before Hyundai, Muñoz held leadership roles at Daewoo, Toyota, and Nissan, where he served as Chief Performance Officer and Chair of China and North America. He initially pursued a career in nuclear engineering and aerospace before transitioning to the automotive industry.
A native of Spain, Muñoz holds a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Polytechnic University of Madrid and an MBA from IE Business School. He has also completed executive programs at Cranfield School of Management and INSEAD. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, he brings a global perspective to his leadership.
