Hyundai Motor takes time off to lift economy

Hyundai Motor Group is introducing various programs during the summer vacation season this month in hopes of boosting the domestic economy.

According to the nation’s largest automotive group on Sunday some 150,000 employees and their families as well as its business partners will take a minimum weeklong summer break starting today. Some employees will take an extensive summer vacation of as long as nine days as production will be halted.

During the summer break, the company said it will operate R&R centers in six major vacation sites for employees and business partners. This includes Gwanseong and Najeong beach in Gyeongju; Jigyeongri beach in Yangyang, Gangwon; Mongsanpo auto camping site and Blue Ocean Resort in Taean, South Chungcheong; Tacoma Jangsu Report in Jangsu, North Jeolla; and Seorak Hyundai Soo Resort, Sokcho, Gangwon.

Hyundai Motor’s affiliate Kia Motors will offer 20 vacation accommodations, including the four auto camping sites.

In addition to offering vacation packages at sites owned by the automotive group, Hyundai Motor will offer discounts at popular lodging facilities in Korea to further encourage its employees to spend their vacations in Korea instead of traveling overseas.

Automotive group employees can also use points distributed by the company for use in their leisure activities at the local tourism sites. Employees who have stayed at the accommodation listed on the company’s intranet sites will receive tickets for free gas. The sites also offering various tourism programs, such as tours in Jeju, caravan camping and even farming activities.

During the summer vacation, travelers in Korea can test drive 400 Hyundai and Kia vehicles at 29 centers across the country, the largest event the company has held during a summer break. The person who posts the best review on the test drives on Hyundai Motor’s official Facebook page will receive a free three-day pass to test its electric vehicle Ioniq.

“We have prepared various vacation programs not only for our employees as well as those of our business partners but also to our customers so that they could enjoy their vacation here in Korea,” said a Hyundai Motor Group official. “We hope [these programs] would not only vitalize the domestic tourism industry but also contribute to the growth of our domestic economy.”

Meanwhile, GM Korea is holding its own promotions, with a maximum discounts of 3.5 million won ($3,147) on any car purchase this month.

Customers can choose between receiving a 1 million won discount when purchasing the company’s compact model Spark. Customers can also choose between a 36-month installment payment with an interest rate of 4.5 percent or a 60-month payment with 4.9 percent interest.

The customer can also choose a 500,000 won discount and a free Dyson wireless vacuum cleaner.

Additionally those who have owned a car for more than 10 years will receive 30 percent off their individual consumption tax. This is an addition to the already 70 percent discount on the same tax offered by the government.

GM Korea is also offering an additional 300,000 won discount for consumers who purchase the company’s Cruze if they have already owned a Chevrolet vehicle for more than three years. A 500,000 won discount is added on purchases of GM Korea’s recreational vehicles including Orlando, Captiva and Trax.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]