Why #BoycottHyundai went viral on Twitter: Here’s what happened

Hyundai has been trending since Sunday on Twitter. However, the carmaker won’t be happy with the news.

The automobile company has found itself in hot water over its recent tweet, leading netizens in India to make the hashtag #BoycottHyundai go viral.

We examine what happened and why it led to such a reaction.

Hyundai’s tweet irks netizens

On Saturday, Hyundai Pakistan shared a post from its official social media handle, “Let us remember the sacrifices of our Kashmiri brothers and stand in support as they continue to struggle for freedom.”

South Korea’s Hyundai is in partnership with Nishat Mills, a subsidiary of Nishat Group.

Each year, Pakistan marks 5 February as Kashmir Solidarity Day.

While the post has been deleted now, Indian Twitter users posted the screenshots of the posts on Twitter while asking Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) to explain its stand on the issue.

Many Indian users also called for boycotting Hyundai India products.

Cars Sold by Hyundai Motors in 2021

India - 505,000
Pakistan - 8000

Yet @Hyundai_Global chose to needle India via its Pakistani Handle. Either they are very stupid and lack business sense or they have hired a very incompetent PR team which led to #BoycottHyundai disaster pic.twitter.com/jProIRNqYi

— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 6, 2022

Official Statement from Hyundai Motor India Ltd.#Hyundai #HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/dDsdFXbaOd

— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) February 6, 2022

We have sacrificed Brave Soldiers and innocent unarmed Civilians … Their sacrifice is more precious to us Indians 🙏💐

Say NO to खटारा

Be Indian Buy Indian #BoycottHyundai

Jai Hind 🇮🇳

— KJS DHILLON🇮🇳 (@TinyDhillon) February 7, 2022

Hyundai made a wrong choice.

We Indians must now make the right choice. #BoycottHyundai@HyundaiIndia #BoycottKia@KiaInd pic.twitter.com/1HJkOVBcc1

— Ramnik Singh Mann 🇮🇳 (@ramnikmann) February 6, 2022

Since last 25 years,
Indians purchased over 9 million cars from Hyundai

But Hyundai in Pakistan is conspiring to separate Kashmir from India

Time to teach Hyundai a lesson

Instead of Hyundai,
let us support Indian brands like Tata#BoycottHyundai

— Mahesh Vikram Hegde 🇮🇳 (@mvmeet) February 6, 2022

Hyundai issues statement

Seeing the negative reactions on Twitter, Hyundai India released a statement that it “stands firmly for its “strong ethos of respecting nationalism”.

Official Statement from Hyundai Motor India Ltd.#Hyundai #HyundaiIndia pic.twitter.com/dDsdFXbaOd

— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) February 6, 2022

“The unsolicited social media post linking Hyundai Motor India is offending our unparalleled commitment and service to this great country. India is second home to the Hyundai brand,” said Hyundai Motor India in a press statement.

Later, the Twitter handles of both Hyundai India and Hyundai Pakistan were changed to protected, restricting users from viewing their tweets.

Hyundai sales in India

The Korean carmaker earlier on 1 February had reported a 15 per cent decline in January domestic sales to 44,022 units as against 52,005 units in January 2021.

In December 2021, Hyundai had sold 32,312 PVs in the domestic market, owing to the semiconductor crisis.

With inputs from agencies

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