Are you acquainted with the Hyundai logo’s history in logo design business? Although occasionally mistaken for the Honda logo by non-auto enthusiasts, the slanted “H” is widely recognized. The Hyundai symbol embodies speed and innovation, appealing to road warriors.

While the current Hyundai logo differs from the original, it has evolved into a universally recognizable emblem. Let’s delve into the basics of the Hyundai symbol, its significance, and its origin within the realm of logo design. If you’re seeking website and logo design services, consider consulting American logo designers for expert assistance.

Hyundai history: The Hyundai logo today

The Hyundai logo features a stylized “H” in an oval border, often with the name “Hyundai” written in angular, sans-serif font. While often mistaken for the company’s name, the symbol also represents acceptance, community, and teamwork.

Founded:

December 1967

Founder:

Chung Ju-Yung

Headquarters:

Seoul, South Korea

Hyundai, the largest car manufacturer in South Korea, was launched in 1967 and has since grown into one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, producing commercial, luxury, and electronic vehicles.

Hyundai logo evolution

Though there’s likely to be a single Hyundai symbol you recognize more than others, the Hyundai logo design has changed a few times over the years.

1969–1970

The emblem, created for the Korean brand in 1969 featured a monochrome composition where the “HD” monogram in a custom typeface was placed on a trapezoid with its upper corners rounded, and bottom ones — sharpened.

The Hyundai “H” had its right vertical bar elongated and bent to the right in its upper part, with the end of the line pointed. The image was placed on a white background and featured a thin black circular frame.

1970–1978

The abstract car contour with the “HD” lettering was slightly refined in 1970. Both elements became smaller and the circular frame was switched to a horizontally stretched oval, which will come back to the Hyundai visual identity with the modern emblem, in 1990.

1974–1992

The image features a monochromatic logo with the initials “HD” in black and white, encased within a double-framed border. The “H” and “D” are styled with a modern geometric approach, symbolizing connection and cohesion.

1980–1992

In 1980 Hyundai completely changed the concept of its visual identity, creating a new logo and adopting a fresh and intense color palette. The smooth lines of the initial version were switched to straight geometry, and now the badge featured a horizontally placed rectangular with the bold blue “HD” lettering on the left and the name of the company in Korean placed on the right from the monogram.

The blue and white color scheme made the logo more delightful and recognizable, while the straight shapes represented professionalism and reliability.

1990–2003

The first version of the iconic Hyundai logo we all know today appeared in 1990 and is still used by the brand. The company decided to take elements from all previous designs and the combination worked just fine.

The new logo featured an oval shape of the frame and a slanted bold letter “H” enclosed into it. The color palette remained the same — blue and white, but the shade of blue became deeper and darker.

2003 — Today

In 2003 the smooth elegant emblem of Hyundai gets accompanied by a modern and stylish logotype, which is placed on its right and executed in the uppercase of a custom sans-serif typeface with clean lines and half of the angles rounded. The “N” in the wordmark is the only letter, written in the lowercase column but features the same size as the neighboring capitals.

2011–2017

In 2011 Hyundai decided to go three-dimensional and started using a voluminous silver emblem instead of the flat blue one. The lines remained untouched, as well as the logotype, which was still placed in the right from the symbol, but due to the use of gradient glossy metallic shade, the whole image looks more airy and fresh. Though this badge stayed in official use for only six years.

2023 — now

The logo depicted in the image is a sleek and modern emblem, consisting of a stylized, abstract shape that could be perceived as a letter or symbol. It is designed with a series of bold, black curves that interlock with negative white space to form a harmonious and balanced figure within a circular outline.

The interplay of the curved elements and the contrast between black and white create a dynamic and fluid motion, giving the impression of perpetual movement and innovation. This logo’s simple yet powerful design easily represent a company that prides itself on modernity, sophistication, and a forward-thinking approach to its industry

What does the Hyundai symbol mean?

As noted above, it’s easy to assume the Hyundai symbol just means “Hyundai”. It’s not unusual for a brand to use the first letter of its name in the creation of a logo. This is something we’ve seen from other car brands like Honda, for instance.

However, while the “H” in the Hyundai car logo does stand for the name of the business, it’s also intended as a stylized image of two people shaking hands.

According to the marketing team at Hyundai, the two “people” connected in this logo are supposed to be a sales person, and a satisfied customer, shaking hands over a deal.

The “H” is also slanted slightly towards the right, which indicates movement and speed, as well as positive growth in the “right” direction. A slant in the opposite direction might seem too passive and calm. The oval around the two figures apparently represents the global expansion of the company.

Hyundai logo colors

Hyundai logo colors have always been relatively straightforward. The branded started off using a simple white and black image, and eventually upgraded to various shades of deep, sophisticated blue.

In the latest version of the Hyundai logo, we have the dark blue for the wordmark, and the multi-dimensional silver of the Hyundai symbol.

Despite the color of the symbol being silver, most would still probably say the main Hyundai logo color is blue, as it’s been associated with the company for longer. The choice of silver and blue highlight modernity, sophistication, and reliability.

What font is the Hyundai logo? Hyundai logo font

Like many of the most popular logos of all time, Hyundai’s logo font isn’t one you’ll find in a font library. The Hyundai font is a custom type created specifically for the brand. At a glance, it seems like a very simple and angular sans-serif, which may pay homage to some of the geometric shapes in the old Hyundai logo.

Hyundai logo meaning today

The Hyundai emblem exemplifies the power of simplicity in automotive logos, captivating the world with its effectiveness. Beyond its initial recognition, the Hyundai logo holds profound meaning, offering insights into the significance of logo design.

Explore our array of articles covering premium logo services and iconic logos like the classic sonic logo for further inspiration and information.