Hyundai vs Skoda Auto: Founders, CEOs and History
Hyundai was founded in 1967 by Chung Ju-yung and is led by Jose Munoz. Skoda Auto was founded in 1895 by Vaclav Laurin, Vaclav Klement and is led by Holger Peters (interim).
Company facts
Hyundai
- Founded
- 1967
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Current CEO
- Jose Munoz
- Employees
- 123,000
Skoda Auto
- Founded
- 1895
- Headquarters
- Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic
- Current CEO
- Holger Peters (interim)
- Employees
- 40,000
Founders
Hyundai
Chung Ju-yung
Chung Ju-yung was an absolutely legendary South Korean industrialist and the profoundly influential founding patriarch fundamentally responsible for building the massive Hyundai corporate empire.
Skoda Auto
Vaclav Laurin
Vaclav Laurin co-founded Laurin & Klement in Mlada Boleslav in 1895. He led engineering as the firm moved from Slavia bicycles to motorcycles in 1899 and to its first car, the Voiturette A, in 1905. The company merged with Skoda Works in 1925.
Vaclav Klement
Vaclav Klement co-founded Laurin & Klement in 1895 after, according to company history, a German bicycle maker brushed off his request in Czech for repairs.
CEOs and their tenures
Hyundai
- Chung Eui-sun2019–present
Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group (former co-CEO of Hyundai Motor)
Grandson of founder Chung Ju-yung. He became Hyundai Motor Group chair in 2020 and drove the push into EVs, Genesis, hydrogen and the Boston Dynamics deal.
Source - Jaehoon Chang2021–2024
President and Chief Executive Officer
Led Hyundai through the chip shortage and the Ioniq launches before being promoted to Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group in late 2024.
Source - Jose Munoz2025–present
President and Chief Executive Officer
Munoz ran Hyundai's North American business and served as global COO before becoming CEO. Since 2025 he has led the response to U.S. tariffs, the $26 billion U.S. investment plan through 2028, the hybrid expansion and the 2030 target of 5.55 million sales.
Source
Skoda Auto
- Reinhard Jung2007–2010
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Skoda Auto a.s. from 2007 to 2010.
Source - Winfried Vahland2010–2015
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Skoda Auto a.s. from 2010 to 2015.
Source - Bernhard Maier2015–2020
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Skoda Auto a.s. from 2015 to 2020.
Source - Thomas Schäfer2020–2022
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Skoda Auto a.s. from 2020 to 2022.
Source - Klaus Zellmer2022–2026
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Management
Skoda moved from tenth to second in European registrations and set record revenue (~$34 billion (€30.1 billion)) and operating profit (~$2.82 billion (€2.5 billion)) in 2025.
Source - Holger Peters2026–present
Interim Chief Executive Officer
CFO since June 2023; named interim head of Skoda Auto in September 2026 pending a permanent CEO appointment.
Source
Timeline: Hyundai and Skoda Auto side by side
1895Skoda Auto
Laurin & Klement Founded in Mlada Boleslav: Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement established their partnership to manufacture Slavia bicycles after a dispute with a German bicycle maker.
1899Skoda Auto
First Motorized Bicycle Produced: Introduced the Slavia Type A and B motorcycles, achieving widespread acclaim in international road racing competitions.
1905Skoda Auto
Launch of Voiturette Type A Motorcar: Unveiled its first automobile, the Voiturette A, featuring a 1.0-liter V-twin engine and establishing the company as an automotive pioneer.
1925Skoda Auto
Merger with Skoda Works: Following a major fire at the Mlada Boleslav factory, merged with Akciova spolecnost, drive Skodovy zavody v Plzni and adopted the winged arrow logo.
1934Skoda Auto
Introduction of the Original Superb and Popular: Pioneered backbone chassis technology with the Skoda Popular, driving democratic motorization across Central Europe.
1967Hyundai
Hyundai Motor Company Founded
Chung Ju-yung established Hyundai Motor Company, creating the automotive arm that would become the flagship of South Korea's car industry.
1975Hyundai
Hyundai Pony
The Hyundai Pony became Korea's first mass-produced passenger car and gave Hyundai a domestic platform for exports and engineering learning.
1986Hyundai
U.S. Market Entry
Hyundai entered the U.S. market with the Excel, rapidly building awareness as a value-oriented global automaker.
1991Skoda Auto
Volkswagen AG Acquisition Commences: Volkswagen acquired an initial 31% stake following the fall of communism, modernizing factories and initiating a complete brand rebirth.
1996Skoda Auto
First Modern Octavia Debuts: Built on the shared VW Golf platform, the modern Octavia launched to international acclaim for unbeatable interior volume and value.
1998Hyundai
Kia Stake Acquired
Hyundai acquired a controlling stake in Kia during the Asian financial crisis, creating the basis for Hyundai Motor Group's modern platform scale.
2000Skoda Auto
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Volkswagen Group: Volkswagen AG finalized the purchase of 100% of Skoda Auto shares, completing its corporate integration.
2015Hyundai
Genesis Luxury Brand
Hyundai launched Genesis as a standalone luxury brand, supporting premiumization and higher-margin global growth.
2016Skoda Auto
SUV Offensive Launched with Kodiaq: Introduced the Kodiaq 7-seater SUV, kickstarting a global SUV expansion that grew to encompass the Karoq and Kamiq.
2020Hyundai
E-GMP EV Platform
Hyundai introduced its dedicated E-GMP electric-vehicle platform, giving models such as Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 fast-charging and packaging advantages.
2020Skoda Auto
All-Electric Enyaq iV Launch: Debuted the first dedicated electric vehicle on Volkswagen's MEB platform, becoming one of Europe's top-selling electric SUVs.
2021Hyundai
Boston Dynamics Acquisition
Hyundai Motor Group acquired a controlling stake in Boston Dynamics, adding robotics to its long-term mobility and automation strategy.
2022Skoda Auto
Klaus Zellmer Appointed CEO & Modern Solid Rebrand: Klaus Zellmer became CEO on 1 July 2022; Skoda later introduced its Modern Solid design language.
2025Hyundai
Jose Munoz Becomes CEO
Jose Munoz, previously Hyundai's global COO and head of its North American business, became President and CEO effective January 1, 2025, succeeding Jaehoon Chang. He is the first non-Korean to lead the company.
2025Hyundai
Record Revenue, Tariff-Hit Profit
Hyundai reported FY2025 revenue of ~$132 billion (KRW 186.25 trillion), up 6.3%, while operating profit fell 19.5% to ~$8.14 billion (KRW 11.47 trillion) and net profit fell 21.7% to ~$7.36 billion (KRW 10.36 trillion), largely due to U.S. tariffs.
2025Hyundai
Georgia Battery Plant Raid
In September 2025, U.S. immigration agents detained hundreds of workers, many of them Korean, at the Hyundai-LG Energy Solution battery plant under construction in Georgia, delaying its opening by months.
2025Skoda Auto
Record ~$34B (€30.1B) Revenue and 1 Million+ Deliveries: Posted record revenue of ~$34 billion (€30.1 billion), operating profit of ~$2.82 billion (€2.5 billion) (8.3% return on sales) and 1,043,900 d…
2026Hyundai
Full Ownership of Boston Dynamics
In July 2026 Hyundai Motor Group moved to buy SoftBank's remaining stake in Boston Dynamics, a deal reported at about $325 million, making the robotics company wholly owned.
2026Hyundai
2026 CEO Investor Day
At its August 2026 CEO Investor Day, Hyundai reaffirmed a 2030 target of 5.55 million global sales and detailed its $26 billion U.S. investment plan through 2028.
2026Skoda Auto
Epiq and Peaq Launch; Zellmer Departs: Doubled the BEV line-up with the Epiq and Peaq, reached second place in European registrations in H1 2026, and announced CEO Klaus Zellmer's exit; CFO Holger Pet…
Acquisitions
Questions about Hyundai vs Skoda Auto
Who is the CEO of Hyundai Motor Company and Skoda Auto a.s.?
Hyundai Motor Company is led by Jose Munoz and Skoda Auto a.s. is led by Holger Peters (interim). Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Hyundai Motor Company founded vs Skoda Auto a.s.?
Skoda Auto a.s. was founded in 1895 — 72 years before Hyundai Motor Company, which was founded in 1967. Skoda Auto a.s.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Hyundai Motor Company.
How many employees does Hyundai Motor Company have compared to Skoda Auto a.s.?
Hyundai Motor Company employs approximately 123,000 people, while Skoda Auto a.s. employs approximately 40,000. Hyundai Motor Company has the larger workforce at 123,000 employees, compared to Skoda Auto a.s.'s 40,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Hyundai Motor Company and Skoda Auto a.s. headquartered?
Hyundai Motor Company is headquartered in South Korea and Skoda Auto a.s. is headquartered in Czech Republic. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Hyundai Motor Company and Skoda Auto a.s.?
Hyundai Motor Company was founded by Chung Ju-yung. Skoda Auto a.s. was founded by Vaclav Laurin, Vaclav Klement.
Which company has a longer operating history — Hyundai Motor Company or Skoda Auto a.s.?
Skoda Auto a.s. has been operating for approximately 131 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Hyundai Motor Company has been in operation for around 59 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Hyundai vs Skoda Auto overview