Hyundai Motor Co.'s all-new Genesis
premium and Sonata
midsize sedans may indirectly benefit from airbag safety issues plaguing rivals
in the U.S. market, industry sources here said Monday.
The
speculation comes as automotive journalists in the United States and Canada get
ready to vote on the three vehicles that will be considered for the coveted
2015 North American Car
of the Year title to be announced in January.
Of the
10 models on the current shortlist, only four manufacturers have not been cited
for equipping their vehicles sold in the United States with defective airbags
made by Japanese parts maker Takata Corp.
Hyundai, Audi, Mercedes-Benz
and Volkswagen have not been affected by the sweeping airbag recalls taking
place in the United States.
Besides
the Genesis and Sonata, the Mercedes-Benz C-class, Audi A3, Volkswagen
Golf-GTI, Acura TLX, Chrysler 200, Ford Mustang, Honda Fit, and Toyota Camry
made the shortlist announced in September.
"The
North American Car of the
Year titles have in the past been given to cars that best reflect the
main trend of the times, and with safety becoming an key issue, cars that excel in
this field may hold their own when it comes to winning votes this year," a
market observer speculated.
He
pointed out that the Genesis received the best rating in all safety categories
tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) and rated it as a
"Top Safety Pick+," with the best "good" rating on all 29
safety categories checked.
Hyundai said the rating
marked the first time ever that a rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle in the class
got the recognition, with the Genesis also being the only RWD luxury sedan to
earn the coveted "good" mark for the small overlap crash test.
The
seventh generation Sonata, which started hitting showrooms in the United States
over the summer months, also got the "Top Safety Pick+" in its crash
test carried out by the IIHS.
Besides
the excellent crash test results, both the Genesis and Sonata have received
numerous awards in recent months from such notable publications as Edmunds.com.
Regarding
industry speculation, South Korea's largest carmaker said it does not comment
on other manufacturers, but emphasized that it places top priority on safety
and quality. All new models made by the carmaker make extensive use of high
tensile steel that greatly reduces injury to passengers when there is a crash.
"Every
aspect of corporate operations, including production, is geared to ensure
top-notch quality control and passenger safety," a source, who declined to
be identified, said. He said that even making the first shortlist and then
proceeding to the final three is considered high praise in the industry.
Industry
insiders have said being named as a contender boosts sales and bolsters the
brand equity of a carmaker in the eyes of consumers.
Meanwhile,
Hyundai won the North
American Car of
the Year title twice with the previous generation Genesis in 2009, and with the
2012 Elantra. Its sixth generation Sonata was runner-up in 2011.
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