Hyundai Motor said Monday that it had appointed William Andy Freels, an executive in its U.S. branch, to head its local research center.

It is the first time that a local official has been named as chief of the Hyundai America Technical Center Inc., the carmaker’s R&D center based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, company officials said.


HATCI serves as the company’s headquarters for design, technology, and engineering in the North American market, supporting new model development, safety and emissions regulations, and global programs.

After joining HATCI in 2005, Freels recently served as director of the Vehicle Evaluation Group, leading projects from crashworthiness development support to advanced technology research. He also oversaw the construction of Hyundai Motor’s California Proving Grounds in California.

By Hong Sung-pyo 
(hong1@heraldcorp.com)