Fountain Valley-based Hyundai Motor America said Wednesday it launched a unit to provide technology services to Hyundai and Kia Motors America dealers in North America.
The operation has 113 workers, the company said. It will operate out of Kia Motors America’s Irvine headquarters until 2006, when it will move to the automaker’s new Irvine base, which is under construction.
The unit, Hyundai Information Service North America, will be headed by Rich Hoffman, former director of information technology for Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Finance Co.
“Combining the assets of both Hyundai and Kia into one effective unit will allow us to provide superior IT support and investment advantages for both companies,” Hoffman said in a release.
Hyundai Motor America, a unit of South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co., reported May sales of 40,416 autos. Kia Motors America, part of Kia Motors Corp. in South Korea, said it sold 25,503 autos in May.
Hyundai Motor and other Hyundai units own a majority of Kia, which is run independently. Kia Motors America is spending $70 million to build a headquarters in Irvine for 500 workers plus room to grow.
