Hyundai-Kia's Chang Hwan Kim to helm FISITA by 2025-2027

MANILA: Chang Hwan Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor Corporation and Kia Corporation's Battery Development and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development, was appointed as the president of La Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Ingénieurs des Techniques de l’Automobile (FISITA) from 2025 to 2027.

Kim is the first Korean to helm FISITA. As president-elect, he will assist incoming FISITA President Mike Anderson of General Motors from 2023 to 2025.

Established in 1948, FISITA is the largest organization of academic institutions in the automotive field. It is composed of automotive engineering societies from 38 countries. Around 210,000 automotive researchers are active members of the association.

During his term as president, Kim will also participate in external activities, such as being a speaker in international conferences organized by FISITA.

"I am deeply honored to assume this role within this important global coalition. We are all aware of the challenges facing the automotive industry, and we understand that addressing them efficiently requires global collaboration. I am committed to contributing to sustainable progress in the industry during my tenure," Kim stated.

Kim has extensive research experience as he led firms in the battery and hydrogen fuel cell sectors.

In 2005, he earned his doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Michigan. In 2008, he joined the Global Research and Development (R and D) Division of General Motors, specializing in automotive catalyst development. It was in 2014 when he became part of Hyundai-Kia's R and D Division as the director of the Advanced Catalysts and Emission Control Research Laboratory.

He then served as the brands' Vice President and Head of Energy and Environmental Chemistry Systems Research.

Since 2022, Kim has been leading the battery system development for the full electric and hybrid vehicles of brands under Hyundai Motor Group, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. This year, he also started to oversee the Group's hydrogen fuel cell development for fuel cell development vehicles.

Photos from Hyundai Motor Corporation and La Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Ingénieurs des Techniques de l’Automobile

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