Hyundai Motor America president and CEO John Krafcik told auto leaders at an industry conference in Traverse City, Mich. that Hyundai?s goal is to have a corporate wide fuel economy average of at least 50 mpg by 2025 through innovative Blue Drive? technologies.

Current National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations require automakers to achieve a CAFE rating of 35.5 mpg by 2016.? Before those rules were enacted last year, Hyundai had already announced its own plan to reach 35 mpg by 2015. Hyundai?s announcement of this longer-term goal of delivering a minimum 50 mpg CAFE rating by 2025 is consistent with its philosophy of setting stretch objectives that align its resources, challenge its team members, and delight consumers and society.

?We?re committed to setting the pace in this industry on fuel economy, and we?re inspired by the possibilities that our advanced Blue Drive technologies afford,? said. ?Getting to 50 mpg and beyond seems like a huge leap, but by making this commitment and aligning our R&D initiatives now, we know we can get there.?

Hyundai has shown that customers will flock to high-quality, stylish products offering high fuel economy. The game-changing all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata is the first mid-size family sedan to offer only 4-cylinder engines.? Sonata achieves an EPA highway rating of 35 mpg, yet leads competitors in power output through the use of advanced gasoline direct injection (GDI). Sonata?s sales were up 48 percent in the first half of 2010, while its transaction prices and residual values now exceed those of most mid-size competitors. The Sonata and its 2.4-liter Theta II GDI engine are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.