South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai has announced that it is planning to launch a mobile phone in the UK.
The firm has already achieved successful handset launches in several European countries, including Germany, Slovenia and Hungary, under the Hyundai Mobile Europe banner. Other sales partnerships are currently being set up in Italy, Poland and France, and Hyundai hopes to expand on this achievement through the creation of Hyundai Mobile UK.
Hyundai Mobile UK will be based at the Advantage Cellular distribution hub in Oxfordshire. Roland Prinz, director for Hyundai Mobile UK, said that the company was "eager to meet with networks and distributors that have direct routes to market, especially those focusing on the retail sector."
Norbert Winkler, CEO of Hyundai Mobile Europe, added: "Hyundai is one of the five biggest car manufacturers and is ranked 72nd in the world's most valuable brands, which is bound to provide a positive image transfer to Hyundai mobiles... "We are delighted to have now secured a base in the UK and look forward to developing the business in what is clearly one of the most important territories within Europe."
Hyundai is also inviting potential business partners to view its product portfolio at the Hyundai Mobile Stand at Mobile Work Congress in Barcelona next month. It hopes to occupy between three to five per cent of the UK mobile phone market within the next five years.
The announcement comes shortly after it was revealed by DigiTimes that South Korean electronics firm LG had overtaken Motorola to third place in the world mobile phone market in 2008. Despite announcing a Q4 profit slump due to weak sales,
Nokia remained in the number one spot, while Samsung maintained its second place position.
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