Hyundai vs Target: Founders, CEOs and History
Hyundai was founded in 1967 by Chung Ju-yung and is led by Jose Munoz. Target was founded in 1902 by George Dayton and is led by Michael Fiddelke.
Company facts
Founders
Hyundai
Chung Ju-yung
Chung Ju-yung was a South Korean industrialist and the founder of the Hyundai group. He left the poor farming village where he grew up and in 1947 started a small civil engineering company.
Target
George Dayton
George Draper Dayton became a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company, one of the largest department stores in Minneapolis, in 1902, and became sole owner and president within a year, renaming it the Dayton Dry Goods Company.
CEOs and their tenures
Hyundai
- Chung Eui-sun2019–present
Executive Chair, Hyundai Motor Group (former co-CEO of Hyundai Motor)
He successfully elevated Hyundai and Kia from budget alternatives into highly desirable, premium-leaning brands, capturing significant global EV market share.
Source - Jaehoon Chang2021–2024
President and Chief Executive Officer
As co-CEO, he drove record-breaking operating profits in 2023 by prioritizing high-margin SUVs and luxury Genesis models amid global supply chain shortages.
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
Target
- Robert J. Ulrich1994–2008
Chairman and CEO
Under Ulrich Target grew into the second-largest US discount retailer, built its design-partnership model with designers such as Michael Graves, and added the Super Target format. He retired as chief executive in 2008 and was succeeded by Gregg Steinhafel.
Source - Gregg Steinhafel2008–2014
Chairman, President and CEO
Steinhafel resigned in May 2014 after the data breach and the poor results of Target Canada, which the company closed in 2015 after losses. Brian Cornell succeeded him later in 2014.
Source - Brian Cornell2014–2026
Former Chairman and CEO
Cornell's tenure ended amid a stock and sales slump, with revenue declining for three consecutive fiscal years (from $107.412 billion in FY2023 to $104.780 billion in FY2025) even as the omnichannel infrastructure he built began paying off in the following qua…
Source - Michael Fiddelke2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Fiddelke inherited a company coming off three straight years of revenue decline. His first two quarters as CEO delivered growth: Q1 FY2026 net sales rose 6.7% and Q2 FY2026 net sales rose 5.3% to $26.5 billion, with comparable traffic up 3.6%.
Source
Timeline: Hyundai and Target side by side
1902Target
Dayton Company is founded
George Dayton becomes a partner in Goodfellow's Dry Goods Company in Minneapolis in 1902, then sole owner in 1903, renaming it Dayton Dry Goods Company -- the business that eventually becomes Target Corporation.
1962Target
First Target store opens
The first Target discount store opens in Roseville, Minnesota.
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.
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.
2000Target
Company becomes Target Corporation
Dayton Hudson changes its name to Target Corporation as the discount chain becomes the center of the company.
2013Target
Target Data Breach
Target discloses a data breach affecting more than 40 million customer payment cards during the holiday shopping season, becoming one of the most-cited cybersecurity failures in US retail history.
2014Target
Dermstore Acquired
Target acquires online beauty retailer Dermstore to expand its e-commerce beauty business; it sells the unit to THG for $350 million in 2021.
2015Hyundai
Genesis Luxury Brand
Hyundai launched Genesis as a standalone luxury brand, supporting premiumization and higher-margin global growth.
2015Target
Target Exits Canada
Target announced in January 2015 that it would close all of its Canadian stores, ending an expansion that began in 2013.
2017Target
Target acquires Shipt and Grand Junction
Target acquires same-day delivery platform Shipt for about $550 million and transportation-technology startup Grand Junction, accelerating omnichannel fulfillment.
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.
2020Target
Stores become fulfillment hubs
Target's store-based fulfillment model becomes central to digital growth during the pandemic period.
2021Hyundai
Boston Dynamics Acquisition
Hyundai Motor Group acquired a controlling stake in Boston Dynamics, adding robotics to its long-term mobility and automation strategy.
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.
2025Target
Michael Fiddelke named next CEO
Target announces that Michael Fiddelke will succeed Brian Cornell as CEO effective February 1, 2026, after 22 years rising through the company including as CFO and COO.
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.
2026Target
FY2025 revenue is reported
Target reports FY2025 revenue of $104.780B and net income of $3.705B, the third consecutive year of revenue decline.
2026Target
Q1 FY2026 sales rebound
Target reports Q1 FY2026 net sales growth of 6.7% and comparable sales growth of 5.6% under new CEO Michael Fiddelke.
2026Target
Q2 FY2026 growth and raised outlook
Target reports Q2 FY2026 net sales of $26.5B (+5.3%), comparable sales growth of 3.8% and raises full-year guidance to about 5% sales growth.
Acquisitions
Questions about Hyundai vs Target
Who is the CEO of Hyundai Motor Company and Target Corporation?
Hyundai Motor Company is led by Jose Munoz and Target Corporation is led by Michael Fiddelke. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Hyundai Motor Company founded vs Target Corporation?
Target Corporation was founded in 1902 — 65 years before Hyundai Motor Company, which was founded in 1967. Target Corporation'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 Target Corporation?
Hyundai Motor Company employs approximately 123,000 people, while Target Corporation employs approximately 415,000. Target Corporation has the larger workforce at 415,000 employees, compared to Hyundai Motor Company's 123,000. 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 Target Corporation headquartered?
Hyundai Motor Company is headquartered in South Korea and Target Corporation is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Hyundai Motor Company and Target Corporation?
Hyundai Motor Company was founded by Chung Ju-yung. Target Corporation was founded by George Dayton.
Which company has a longer operating history — Hyundai Motor Company or Target Corporation?
Target Corporation has been operating for approximately 124 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 Target overview