New Delhi: Vehicle manufacturer Hyundai Motors is facing a lot of backlash in India as #BoycottHyundai is trending on Twitter with over 1 lakh tweets on Sunday. It all began with a tweet (now deleted) by an unverified Twitter handle (@PakistanHyundai) of the vehicle company in which it supported the 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' Pakistan observes on February 5 each year. "Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they continue to struggle for freedom," the social media handle of Hyundai Pakistan posted using the hashtag #KashmirSolidarityDay.
Netizens in India were enraged with the post and started tagging Hyundai India on Twitter while asking it to explain its stand on the issue. Soon #BoycottHyundai started trending as social media users called for boycotting Hyundai products. Many claimed they were blocked by the official Hyundai India Twitter handle when they asked for clarification. By the end of the day, Hyundai India came up with an official statement saying that it stood firmly for "our strong ethos of respecting nationalism".
"Hyundai Motor India has been committed to Indian market for more than 25 years now and we stand firmly for our strong ethos of respecting nationalism. The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country. India is second home to the Hyundai brand and we have zero tolerance policy towards insensitive communication and we strongly condemn any such view. As part of our commitment to India, we will continue our efforts towards the betterment of the country as well as its citizens," read the Hyundai statement.
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Official Statement from Hyundai Motor India Ltd.#Hyundai #HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/dDsdFXbaOd
— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) February 6, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Official Statement from Hyundai Motor India Ltd.#Hyundai #HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/dDsdFXbaOd
— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) February 6, 2022Official Statement from Hyundai Motor India Ltd.#Hyundai #HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/dDsdFXbaOd
— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) February 6, 2022
So far, there is no clarification from the Pakistan Hyundai handle though it has deleted the actual post. India is a huge market for the South Korean Motor Company which has also partnered with Hyundai Nishat (Hyundai Pakistan).
Hyundai Motor India is the second-largest carmaker in the country after Maruti Suzuki India. It currently sells 12 models including Creta and Venue in the domestic market. In December last year, the automaker announced plans to invest around Rs 4,000 crore to drive in around six electric vehicles in India by 2028. The company is planning to roll out a mix of models based on its existing range as well as completely new vehicles based on its global platform 'E-GMP' over the next few years. Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees.
Here are some of the reactions on Twitter:
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Hello @Hyundai_Global ,How come your official handle in Pak is supporting terror state Pakistan’s propaganda on Kashmir ?@HyundaiIndia If you can’t respect sovereignty of my nation,Pack your bags and leave my country !
— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) February 6, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Friends,Keep retweeting till @Hyundai_Global apologise ! pic.twitter.com/zbtth6NklS
">Hello @Hyundai_Global ,How come your official handle in Pak is supporting terror state Pakistan’s propaganda on Kashmir ?@HyundaiIndia If you can’t respect sovereignty of my nation,Pack your bags and leave my country !
— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) February 6, 2022
Friends,Keep retweeting till @Hyundai_Global apologise ! pic.twitter.com/zbtth6NklSHello @Hyundai_Global ,How come your official handle in Pak is supporting terror state Pakistan’s propaganda on Kashmir ?@HyundaiIndia If you can’t respect sovereignty of my nation,Pack your bags and leave my country !
— Major Surendra Poonia (@MajorPoonia) February 6, 2022
Friends,Keep retweeting till @Hyundai_Global apologise ! pic.twitter.com/zbtth6NklS
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Hyundai in Pakistan is asking for freedom of Kashmir.
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 6, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Hyundai Pakistan also posted them same on its Facebook page. Link: https://t.co/ZOBDggsdW0 pic.twitter.com/Kmmk2Rc1wu
">Hyundai in Pakistan is asking for freedom of Kashmir.
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 6, 2022
Hyundai Pakistan also posted them same on its Facebook page. Link: https://t.co/ZOBDggsdW0 pic.twitter.com/Kmmk2Rc1wuHyundai in Pakistan is asking for freedom of Kashmir.
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) February 6, 2022
Hyundai Pakistan also posted them same on its Facebook page. Link: https://t.co/ZOBDggsdW0 pic.twitter.com/Kmmk2Rc1wu
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Cars Sold by Hyundai Motors in 2021
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 6, 2022 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
India - 505,000
Pakistan - 8000
Yet @Hyundai_Global chose to needle India via its Pakistani Handle. Either they are very stupid and lack business sense or they have hired a very incompetent PR team which led to #BoycottHyundai disaster pic.twitter.com/jProIRNqYi
">Cars Sold by Hyundai Motors in 2021
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 6, 2022
India - 505,000
Pakistan - 8000
Yet @Hyundai_Global chose to needle India via its Pakistani Handle. Either they are very stupid and lack business sense or they have hired a very incompetent PR team which led to #BoycottHyundai disaster pic.twitter.com/jProIRNqYiCars Sold by Hyundai Motors in 2021
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 6, 2022
India - 505,000
Pakistan - 8000
Yet @Hyundai_Global chose to needle India via its Pakistani Handle. Either they are very stupid and lack business sense or they have hired a very incompetent PR team which led to #BoycottHyundai disaster pic.twitter.com/jProIRNqYi
