The Hyundai California Design Center was established in 1990 to create and develop both production vehicle and cutting edge design concepts for the automotive market. Several innovative vehicles have emerged from the design center including three concept roadsters; HCD-I, HCD-II and HCD-6. Hyundai's California Design Center is also responsible for the HCD-III, a hybrid sport utility vehicle, the Crosstour (HCD-5) sport utility vehicle, the HCD-7 luxury sedan and now the HCD-8 sports tourer.

The influence of the California Design Center can be clearly seen in the sleek lines of the first generation Hyundai Tiburon coupe and the Santa Fe sport utility vehicle.

The original Hyundai Design Center was based in Fountain Valley, California until the current $30 million state-of-the-art Hyundai Kia Design and Technical Center was officially opened in February 2003 when Mong-Koo Chung, chairman and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company gathered with honored guests and elected officials in Irvine, California to celebrate the grand opening.

The beautiful new facility houses more than 100 auto designers, engineers, model makers and technicians. The design teams moved into their new 90,000 square foot facility in January 2003. The design center is fitted with an advanced visualization system from Blue Water Technologies housed in a large presentation room with three projection screens and two vehicle turntables.

In the upstairs office area, designers and math modelers create new vehicle designs using the latest Alias/Silicone Graphic workstations. In the downstairs work area, there are six surface plates, a 5-axis milling machine and other state-of-the-art shop facilities for the clay modelers to use.

Also housed in the new Hyundai Kia Design and Technical Center is Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc, (HATCI) which is responsible for all engineering activities in the U.S. for Hyundai. Having HATCI so close to the design teams helps insure the most modern design and expertise in automotive engineering and is part of Hyundai's ongoing goal of excellent in vehicle design.

Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 620 dealerships nationwide.