Hyundai Motor Opens Heritage Exhibition ‘PONY, the timeless’ and Introduces RETRACE, the Heritage Publication Series.
- Exhibition commemorating the Pony, Korea’s first independently developed car, to be held at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul from June 9
- Heritage project also heralds the publication of RETRACE, a book and magazine series celebrating the brand’s heritage
- Opening celebration took place on June 7 with VIPs and members of Hyundai who enabled the creation of Pony
Hyundai Motor Company today announced its first heritage exhibition ‘PONY, the timeless’ at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul. The exhibition is presented as part of the newly launched Hyundai Heritage project that reflects on the past and future of the brand, and will open to the general public from June 9. The project also heralds the publication of RETRACE, a collection book and magazine series that celebrates the brand’s heritage.
The opening celebration took place on June 7 with VIP guests from various industries, including art, fashion, and architecture. The event included presentations about Hyundai’s Heritage project, the exhibition, and the RETRACE Series, and also featured a performance from the band Jannabi.
Joining the event were Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, and many former members of Hyundai who enabled the creation of Pony.
"In an age when artificial intelligence and robotics have a profound impact on the way we live and work, we wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on the core purpose of the company and the direction of our future. In seeking the answer, we looked back at our roots and what made us the company we are today," said Executive Chair Chung. "We realized that Hyundai Motor was shaped by the experience and mindset that we accumulated while developing the Pony, Korea’s first independently developed mass-production model."
"Hyundai Motor has a history of taking on bold challenges and being in constant pursuit of innovation, and this heritage serves as a milestone as we embark on our future journey to achieve Progress for Humanity," said President Jaehoon Chang. "I hope the 'PONY, the timeless' exhibition and the RETRACE Series will be an opportunity for people to reminisce about the past and take inspiration for the future."
The exhibition follows the inaugural Hyundai Reunion event in Lake Como, Italy in May, where the restored Pony Coupe Concept was unveiled nearly 50 years after its debut at the 1974 Turin Motor Show.
‘PONY, the timeless’ emphasizes Hyundai’s human-centered philosophy that was established by the company’s Founding Chairman Ju-yung Chung. The exhibition is an opportunity to see how Hyundai Motor got started and grew over the years alongside the development of the country. Visitors are guided through Pony’s timeline from multiple angles in terms of historical background, archiving, design and philosophy.
The exhibition traces the Pony’s journey through time over several floors of Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul. It begins on the fifth floor, immersing visitors in the Pony era through videos, music and paintings of the 1970s and ’80s. The fourth floor shows archived records of Pony, from its beginning to its global expansion through export. The third floor presents the restored Pony Coupe Concept and a retrospective of drawings by its world-renowned automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. Also on this floor is the sensational N Vision 74 concept, which was recently shown alongside the Pony Coupe Concept at the Hyundai Reunion. The exhibition concludes with a photo gallery illustrating various moments people have shared with Pony over the years, further reflecting the Founding Chairman’s belief that the most important value in Hyundai’s heritage are embodied in the people.
Along with the exhibition, the newly introduced RETRACE Series archives the journey of Hyundai Motor with Pony as its first theme. RETRACE Collection is a book that archives the history of the company, including records from Pony development that are being disclosed to the public for the first time. RETRACE Magazine explores the theme of ‘ownership’ through Pony, which opened the era of car ownership in Korea, and the magazine’s subheading ‘Forever Yours’ reflects the lasting impact that the Pony has had on Korean culture.
Hyundai Motor has been actively communicating its brand heritage in various formats, including the Pony documentary film 'The Next Chapter' released earlier this month. The company also newly released the film 'A Pony Tale' about a young man in the Netherlands who still drives the Pony for his daily commutes.
‘PONY, the timeless’ exhibition will be open to public until August 6 at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul, and tickets can be reserved here.