Hyundai’s new COO Claudia Marquez’s grand vision: electric cars, customer confidence, and a robust team
Hyundai is making notable strides nowadays, and its next principal milestone is the new Hyundai Palisade SUV, which simply debuted at the New York Auto Show. At the event, we had the delight to interview Hyundai Motor America’s new Chief Operating Officer, Claudia Marquez, who freely expressed her evaluations of the destiny of the agency, her position, and the issues of the automobile enterprise.
The journey from Genesis to Hyundai: More scale, more opportunities
Marquez has three decades of experience in the auto industry. She has worked at premium companies like BMW and Infiniti and has also been the COO of Genesis North America recently. Genesis is a luxury brand, while Hyundai makes mass-market cars—this change brings a greater scale for them, and they like this challenge.
She said,
“I love strategy and numbers.”
She thinks that the job should be difficult and allow one to think new things every time.
She likens thinking to cooking.
“Just like spices change the taste of food, different data changes the impact of a decision.”
Rapid decision-making is crucial in volatility.
The car industry today is experiencing a lot of uncertainties—tariffs, economic shifts, and new technology. Speed in decision-making is highly critical. Marquez states she has come up with 25 various plans since the start of the year.
“We are always planning, and our tendency to make swift decisions is our strength.”
Hyundai has additionally invested drastically inside the US, particularly by way of setting up a new plant in Savannah, Georgia, in which Hyundai lately started manufacturing the Ioniq 9 EV SUV. The organization is going to make investments of $21 billion (around Rs 1.75 lakh crore) in the US from 2025 to 2028.
Keeping the customer trust intact
Customers today are also confused. Thus, Hyundai initiated the Assurance Program, with the help of which there would not be a single change in the price of the vehicle till June 3. This offers relief to the customer.
“This is our brand promise—’Progress for Humanity’, and it means giving peace to the customers.”
The impact of this strategy can be seen—the company’s sales hit record levels in March. Sales of hybrid vehicles rose by 72%, electric vehicles by 38%, and overall sales by 15% year-on-year.
Looking to the future: Palisade and Ioniq 9
Marquez is extremely optimistic regarding the future. The firm is going to soon introduce the new Palisade SUV, which will be its first hybrid powertrain. Its new three-row EV SUV, the Ioniq 9, went into production in March.
“Customers are now more interested in hybrids than fully electrics,” she said.
The goal is to build a strong, united team.
In her new position, Marquez is creating a new team. She considers herself to be the “dot” bringing everyone together.
“I don’t care what happened before, who did what—now we have to move forward together.”
She says that if something does not work, change it and try again. For her, it is significant to enjoy work—”If you don’t enjoy your work, you won’t be able to do it well.”
Towards the future with an adventurous spirit
His new appointment at Hyundai is more than just a job but a challenge to mold the future of a large automobile firm. Marquez’s ideas of strategy, customer delight, and forming strong teams have enabled Hyundai to survive and thrive in the fast-changing climate.
“I like to be brave, I like to be strong,” he said.
And that mindset is helping Hyundai overcome today’s challenges—one step at a time, with every strategic move.
FAQs
1. Who is Claudia Marquez and what is her role at Hyundai?
Claudia Marquez is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Hyundai Motor America. She brings 30 years of auto industry experience and focuses on strategy, innovation, and customer confidence.
2. What makes Claudia Marquez’s background unique?
She previously worked at BMW, Infiniti, and Genesis, giving her both luxury and mass-market expertise. This allows her to scale ideas across different segments within Hyundai’s growing portfolio.
3. What is Hyundai’s major recent launch under Claudia Marquez?
Hyundai recently debuted the new Palisade SUV at the New York Auto Show, featuring its first hybrid powertrain, signaling Hyundai’s future push into sustainable mobility under Marquez’s leadership.