Hyundai is launching various initiatives to commemorate the ‘first’ as it sponsors the ‘first’ Major League Baseball (MLB) official game held in South Korea.
On the 19th (Tuesday), Hyundai announced that it will sponsor the ‘MLB World Tour Seoul Series’ taking place at Gocheok Sky Dome (located in Guro-gu, Seoul).
The MLB World Tour Seoul Series (hereinafter referred to as the Seoul Series) is the first Major League Baseball game to be held in South Korea, consisting of a two-game series between the LA Dodgers and the San Diego Padres from the 17th to the 21st, along with four special games featuring the LG Twins, Kiwoom Heroes, and the South Korean national baseball team competing against the two teams.
Hyundai has provided a total of 18 vehicles, including six hydrogen commercial vehicles, six IONIQ 5s, three IONIQ 6s, one G80, one GV80, and four Starias, to support the smooth operation of the six games.
The Universe hydrogen electric bus, supported by Hyundai, holds significance as the first hydrogen electric vehicle in MLB’s operational fleet.
The Universe hydrogen electric bus will be used for transporting players, while other passenger vehicles will be utilized for official duties and staff transport.
Hyundai will also hold an event called ‘The first IONIQ Home Run’ during the opening games on the 20th and 21st, where the player who hits the first home run will receive an IONIQ 5.
Additionally, Ferrari will showcase a specially designed IONIQ 5 art car at the outdoor space of Gocheok Sky Dome during the Seoul Series.
The IONIQ 5 art car features the logos and symbolic colors of the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres, making it a must-visit spot for fans attending the games.
Moreover, Hyundai plans to enhance brand visibility by displaying its logo on fences, lower sections of the electronic scoreboard, banners, and interview backdrops within the stadium.
Furthermore, Hyundai will allow customers who test drive its electric vehicles, such as the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, and Kona EV, at one of 27 domestic driving lounges from February 28 to March 11, to enter a raffle for Seoul Series game tickets and MLB merchandise to commemorate the event.
A Hyundai official stated, “We are thrilled to partake in the new history of baseball with the first official MLB game in South Korea, as Hyundai has been striving to write a new history of mobility by developing the Pony, Korea’s first unique model, and mass-producing the world’s first hydrogen electric vehicle. Like being the first to provide a hydrogen electric vehicle for MLB’s official operational fleet, we will continue to undertake various challenges as a representative brand of Korea and a first mover in the mobility sector.”
Meanwhile, the Seoul Series featured four special games held on the 17th and 18th between the LG Twins, Kiwoom Heroes, the South Korean national baseball team, the LA Dodgers, and the San Diego Padres. The regular season opening games of the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres are scheduled for the 20th and 21st.
Among the infielders, this will be the first match in South Korea for Kim Ha-seong, the first player from Asia to win a Golden Glove award, and the first official game for Shohei Ohtani, the first player in MLB history to be unanimously awarded MVP twice, with the LA Dodgers.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr