Hyundai Motor Issues A Second Statement Amidst Kashmir Controversy 

Hyundai Motor found itself in hot water recently when a tweet posted by a company distributor in Pakistan went viral. The tweet mentioning ‘struggle for freedom in Kashmir,’ was widely met by criticism on the internet, with #BoycottHyundai trending on Monday. 

While the company issued a statement on the same, it was quickly panned by many for not being unequivocal enough. During today’s assembly in Rajya Sabha, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed that the Indian government has asked the car manufacturer for a better response.

Earlier today, the South Korean manufacturer has issued a longer statement, condemning the actions of the distributor. It expressed “deep regrets” for the offence caused to citizens of India due to an “unauthorized” tweet.

Hyundai Motor statement:#Hyundai #HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/Ir5JzjS2XP

— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) February 8, 2022

While the second statement certainly tamed the fire of yesterday, the response on it has been a mixed bag:

You could have done this course correction 48 hours before but you chose to brazen out.
You took u-turn only after Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations – issued a statement condemning your silence.
Hope better sense prevails in future pic.twitter.com/G6XHDRSQGG

— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 8, 2022

You took a bit too long. It’s time for my family to change our car. We were driving a Hyundai auto-transmission one. A bit prompter response from your end could have helped brand #Hyundai to retain us.https://t.co/i9vnbEiGWN

— Debjani Bhattacharyya 🇮🇳 (@DebjaniBhatta20) February 8, 2022

Wrong statement.
Hyundai -Nishat operating in operating in Pakistan is a Joint venture and it’s not a distributor.
Don’t shy away and run from the responsibility.

— Akshit Singh 🇮🇳 (@IndianSinghh) February 8, 2022

This doesn’t look like Apology @HyundaiIndia where it’s mention Kashmir Integral Part of 🇮🇳
you better post PKMKB
Or else this will be the reality pic.twitter.com/SliG2nXsAt

— Hindustani (@Hindust2022) February 8, 2022

The apology should be from Hyundai Global, which operates in India as well as Pak. Offence has been caused to India not “any offence caused”. This effort of distancing from Distributor in Pak means one hand earns in India and the other hand slaps India ?🙏

— 🇮🇳Tyagi🚩 (@ndtyagi1955) February 8, 2022

Unfortunately, a statement made in haste yesterday followed by yet another statement in haste, mincing words here & there, makes it clear, your protocols and procedures have run out of your control….Sadly, if this is how Global Corporations behave, GOD save the Corporate World

— DHAVAL K JASANI (@CADhavalJasani) February 8, 2022

The damage is already done. I have decided to never buy a new car from your company. I had 2 cars earlier, you guys blocked the Indian consumer who only asked your stand. You did not roll heads, and came up with a shoddy statement. This Apology is too little to late.

— Vaibhav Desai (@vaibhavndesai) February 8, 2022