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Hyundai Motor regrets, others remain silent on anti-India statement
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SME Times News Bureau | 09 Feb, 2022
Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor Company on Tuesday expressed
regret to Indian people for the hurt caused by the unofficial social
media post by its dealer in Pakistan.
However, several other major automotive companies having operations in India remain silent on the similar issue.
In
a message on Hyundai Motor India Ltd's handle, the Korean company said:
"We deeply regret any offense caused to the people of India by this
unofficial social media activity."
Hyundai Motor said as a business policy it does not comment on political or religious issues in any specific region.
The independently owned Hyundai distributor in Pakistan's tweet is against Hyundai Motor's policy.
"We
have since taken measures to ensure the distributor, which misused the
Hyundai brand identity, has removed the social media posts and we have
put in place processes to prevent a future reoccurrence," Hyundai Motor
said.
It all started on February 5 with a tweet from the Twitter
handle Hyundai Pakistan Official that read: "Let us remember the
sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they
continue to struggle for freedom."
India's neighbour Pakistan
observes February 5 as 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' as a mark of its support
to the so-called 'separatist' movement in Kashmir.
Soon social
media users started forwarding the controversial post and also tagged it
to Hyundai Motor India's Twitter account with their comments and a call
for boycotting the car maker's models.
On its part, Hyundai Motor India started blocking those social media accounts and later came out with a statement.
"The
unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending
our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country. India is
second home to the Hyundai brand and we have zero tolerance policy
towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such
view," Hyundai Motor India tweeted.
Continuing further Hyundai
Motor India said: "As part of our commitment to India, we will continue
our efforts towards the betterment of the country as well as its
citizens."
The United Union of Hyundai Employees (UUHE), the
worker's union at Hyundai Motor India condemning the anti-India tweet by
a Hyundai dealer in Pakistan had also urged the company to get a
clarification from the Korean parent.
With the boycott call for Hyundai Motor vehicles, the workers were concerned as this would affect their future.
A
senior official of Hyundai Motor India preferring anonymity told IANS
that Pakistani dealers of several other multinational companies -
Suzuki, Isuzu, Bosch Pharmaceuticals, FAW Trucks, Honda, Daewoo Express,
Toyota, Domino's Pizza- too had posted similar anti-Indian messages on
the social media.
"But why Hyundai Motor India alone was singled
out and criticised. We are contributing to the community and have
invested and invested a huge amount, providing employment to thousands,"
the official bemoaned and does not rule out corporate rivalry.
At
a larger level, this sort of a campaign may also destabilise the
operations of multinational companies in India, the official added.
Meanwhile
Harish Bijoor, brand expert and founder of Harish Bijoor Consults Inc,
told IANS that the social media campaign against Hyundai Motor India and
Kia will be a temporary blip.
"The brands can expect initial
cancellations of orders, but then, public memory is proverbially, and
really, short. In the short term competing brands can ramp up on
scurrying to get a piece of the cancelled bookings space. But this is
short term. It will be business as usual for Hyundai, sooner than
later," Bijoor added.
India is a major production and sales
market for Hyundai. The company has a capacity to make 7.5 lakh cars at
its plant near here.
The company also ships out its cars to various overseas markets.
Group company Kia has its facility in Andhra Pradesh.
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