Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) has announced that it has appointed BMW M veteran Albert Biermann (pictured below) as the firm’s new Head of Vehicle Test & High Performance Development division. Biermann joins the Korean carmaker as it ramps up development of models that are more performance-oriented.
“Biermann has unrivalled credentials in this field and his expertise and experience will help us bring forward the development of new Hyundai and Kia cars that are great to drive,” said HMC vice chairman Woong Chul Yang.
With over 30 years of experience in developing high-performance BMW M models, Biermann will leave behind his current position as vice president of engineering at BMW M Automobiles and BMW Individual to take up his new responsibility in Seoul come April 2015. Biermann first joined BMW in 1983.
Apart from heading the development of future performance Hyundai and Kia models, Biermann will also be responsible for supervising projects related to improving the ride, handling, safety, reliability and NVH (noise, vibrations and harshness) standards of current models across the range.
The Korean automaker has been in the process of upping its performance credentials – it opened a purpose-built Hyundai test centre at the Nurburgring track in Germany earlier in the year. The centre handles on-ground development work as well as assess steering, suspension, ride and handling characteristics to define new set-ups suited to the preferences of European drivers.
There’s also Hyundai N, a sub-brand that will field a series of high-performance and dynamically-focused road-going models in the near future.
Upon his appointment, Biermann stated that “it (Hyundai) is a company I have watched closely as it has taken on its key competitors and quickly established a strong customer base in Europe. 2015 is a key year for the brand with the launch of many all-new models and the start of its second season in WRC, so I am really looking forward to the challenge.”
Besides honing the next wave of performance models, Biermann will also serve as an advisor on product and marketing strategy for the European market. His appointment makes him the second-highest foreign executive to be hired after design chief Peter Schreyer was poached from Audi AG in the mid-2000s.
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Will korean people say hyundai needs an outsider because koreans are bodoh?
What the F? Most Hyundai vehicles today are designed by Mat Salleh for the Mat Salleh countries consumers.
This is the reason why Hyundai cars today look like European cars and sale figures by the hundred of thousands if not million.
We are still looking at 3R……
Ride and handling is a dark art. It’s not about how much you invest in facilities and equipment but its largely down to having the right people.
That’s why u see companies that have been known for handling are always the usual suspects such as Suzuki,Mazda,Ford,Bmw and yes even our Proton thanks to owning Lotus. They usually have good to great handling all across the model range while others such as Toyota,Audi,Peugeot excel only in certain high end models (thanks to outsourcing to firms such as Lotus,Prodrive,Cosworth etc)
If there was one major downside to owning Korean cars in general, it’s thier inept and lifeless handling all across thier model range even to this very day.
Glad to see they are realize it’s the people rather then just having a ‘facility’ at the Nurburgring that make the difference. I expect a number of his loyalist engineers to follow him there as well. Looks like Korean cars are finally going to have some handling finesse. Good move IMO.
Probably means that Hyundai wants a piece of the compact sports sedan market from the BMW 3 Series soon. They’ve had enough of the Japanese, and are now they are targetting the Germans. Shouldn’t be too difficult to scale down the RWD plank from the bigger Genesis into a smaller car.
They can poach all they want. All kimchis will never have RV
Sam Loo, sila pi jahanam with your RV… who needs RV on automobile when you have high RV on properties?? beli rumah kedai 4 tingkat lah kalau always talking cock about RV… asal berita selain drpd Toyota and Honda, ada je nak menyemak pasal RV…
Koreans seems very serious and they are for real making the right moves. You better warm up else you are digging your own grave talking about this RV stuff !!
Don’t mind anyone with the words “Sam Loo” or something similar in their names when they demean Korean cars. I think it’s a disease, probably incurable, so just ignore them, k?
This is a very significant development. For one thing, this guy who has worked at BMW M division for a little over 30 years has left the renowned group along with its associated prestige for a car brand that, about a decade ago, not many would have respected. It seems that this man sees strong potential in Hyundai’s future because, certainly, if it’s just about money, BMW shouldn’t have trouble with upping his salary to outdo Hyundai’s offer. In a way, I think he’s putting his reputation on the line for Hyundai’s future. On the other hand, he’s showing the world that Hyundai has come a long, long way.
It’ll sure be interesting to see how Hyundai and Kia cars would be like in another decade’s time.
Hyundai become better and better. They are not hire the CEO, but the CEO is hire outsider to help him corrected and improve problem. This is happen from proton previous management who are hiring Quality expert from German. Low RV is good for Malaysian to purchase recondition good quality car from Korea in the future maybe?
Even now man, go get a 2nd hand Korean car that is produced from year 2009 model till the latest and be amazed there is no difference in quality from 2nd hand Toyota.
Good for Hyundai. Not resting on their laurels and aiming for the next level and sure to inspire others. This is how you do world-class.Win-win for everybody.
Move and go forward dont look back hyundai and kia cause their politician never interfere with their car business not like in malaysia vise versa that why old man engine and model like proton .