Hyundai Motor Steps Up to the Plate as Official Sponsor of MLB World Tour Seoul Series Presented by Coupang Play

Comunicato Stampa disponibile solo in lingua originale.

 Hyundai Motor Company has become the official sponsor of the MLB World Tour Seoul Series presented by Coupang Play, one of the most highly anticipated global sports events to take place in Korea this year and the first of its kind in the country.

The MLB World Tour, organized by Major League Baseball, is a global tour featuring regular-season games played in various countries, with this year's tour stopping in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United Kingdom and Korea. The Seoul Series games will be held at Gocheok Sky Dome, where the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres will face off on March 20 and 21.

As part of its commitment to the MLB World Tour Seoul Series, Hyundai Motor will roll out six Universe hydrogen fuel cell electric buses for team transportation, making it the first time MLB is using such vehicles. Additionally, the company will provide a fleet of passenger cars, including one Genesis GV80, one Genesis G80, three IONIQ 5s, three IONIQ 6s, three Staria seven-seaters and one Staria nine-seater, as the official vehicles of the series. These will ensure seamless transportation for players during their stay in Korea.

In addition to the first use of hydrogen-powered buses by Major League Baseball, the MLB World Tour Seoul Series represents various other 'firsts' as well. Notably, it is the first time Hyundai Motor is sponsoring an MLB series and these will be the first MLB games held in Korea, making it the first time for many domestic baseball fans to attend an MLB game. It is also the first game in Korea for many renowned MLB players such as Ha-seong Kim, the first Asian-born infielder to win the Gold Glove award, returning to his former home in the Kiwoom Heroes stadium as a member of the Padres.

In line with the series' many 'firsts,' Hyundai Motor has prepared a range of programs under the concept of 'The First Road', signifying the first 'road' or 'away' games in Korea for MLB and the automaker's first official sponsorship of an MLB series.

• To commemorate these historic firsts, the company is hosting 'The First IONIQ Home Run' event. The player who achieves the first home run in the opening game will be awarded an IONIQ 5 electric vehicle.
  
• The company is also exhibiting a special Seoul Series version of the IONIQ 5, wrapped in logo and color designs of the two Seoul Series teams. The art car – half in 'Dodgers Blue' and the other half in 'Padres Gold' – is on display outside the Gocheok Sky Dome from March 17 to 21.
  
• In addition, the company conducted a customer participation event, offering MLB World Tour Seoul Series game tickets and prizes through a lottery for customers who test-drove EVs between the end of February and early March. This event aimed to provide customers and baseball fans in Korea and Japan the opportunity to experience the connection with EVs for the first time.

Hyundai Motor also participated as an official sponsor for four special exhibition games involving the Dodgers, the Padres, the Korean national baseball team, LG Twins and Kiwoom Heroes. The company provided team buses for these games, ensuring smooth transportation for the players.

"As a company that has opened new chapters in the history of mobility, and with many firsts of its own, Hyundai Motor is excited to take part in the MLB World Tour Seoul Series, the first MLB game to be held in Korea," said Sungwon Jee, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer of Hyundai Motor Company. "This is the first time hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have been deployed as official transportation in the history of MLB, and we will continue to lead the way as a first mover in the mobility industry."