Some citizens threatened on social media to boycott the Korean brand which has been operating in India for over 25 years. That has not happened yet
The social media posts on Kashmir by Hyundai’s Pakistani distributor on February 5, commemorated as ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’ in Pakistan, has created quite a storm and Indian citizens are reacting to it. Many of them threatened on social media to boycott the Korean brand which has been operating in India for over 25 years. That has not happened yet.
ETAuto quoted a few Hyundai dealers who said that they had not seen any negative impact yet. “Such incidents may definitely hurt sentiments, but there isn’t any adverse impact on business. We still have a 6-month long waiting list for some models,” a dealer was quoted saying.
The controversial episode was also mentioned in Parliament. Indian Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goel, who is also Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, reportedly said that the government has asked Hyundai to be more forceful in its unequivocal apology
It may be mentioned that messages similar to the one by Hyundai’s Pakistani distributor were also posted by units in Pakistan representing Kia, Honda, Suzuki, and KFC. However, the social media post by Hyundai Pakistan got the largest number of reactions maybe because it was noted first.
In an official message, Hyundai Motor India distanced itself from the entire controversial episode. While clarifying that Hyundai Motor India did not have any connection with the party which shared the controversial social media post, the company said, ‘we strongly reject the distributor’s unauthorised non-business-related social media activity’.
Hyundai India also said: “We deeply regret any offence caused to the people of India by this unofficial social media activity”.
The controversial episode was also mentioned in Parliament. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goel, who is also Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, reportedly said that the government has asked Hyundai to be more forceful in its unequivocal apology.
************************************************************************
Readers