Hyundai’s Rise in TIME’s 2025 World’s Best Companies Ranking

Hyundai ranks 33rd in TIME and Statista’s World’s Best Companies 2025 list, reflecting gains in satisfaction, growth and ESG. Learn the key factors behind the rise.

Hyundai Motor Company has made a significant leap in global recognition, rising 159 spots to reach 33rd place in TIME and Statista’s “World’s Best Companies 2025” ranking. As the only Korean company to appear in the top 100 and the leading Asian automaker in this year’s list, Hyundai stands out for its performance across multiple dimensions.

The ranking evaluates organizations based on employee satisfaction, revenue growth, and ESG performance, and Hyundai showed meaningful progress in all three areas. The company’s financial trajectory further reinforces this momentum: revenue increased by approximately 23 percent from 2022 to 2024, while operating profit grew by around 45 percent during the same period. This upward trend was supported by strong global demand, an expanding mix of high-value models, and the company’s accelerating eco-friendly vehicle strategy.

Hyundai’s consistent growth has also been reflected in its credit standing. Major international rating agencies — including S&P Global, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings — raised the company’s ratings in response to its sustained profitability and operational resilience.

Innovation continues to be another defining pillar of Hyundai’s progress. Most notably, the autonomous XCIENT Fuel Cell Class 8 truck, developed in partnership with PlusAI, was named one of TIME’s “Best Inventions of 2025,” underscoring the company’s growing influence in the future-mobility sector.

Hyundai also remains committed to its long-term environmental and governance goals. The company is advancing toward carbon neutrality by 2045 and pursuing its RE100 roadmap to transition production facilities worldwide to renewable energy. Alongside these initiatives, Hyundai continues to invest in hydrogen solutions, electric mobility, and efforts to improve the sustainability of its supply chain.

The company’s rise in the TIME ranking highlights not only its current achievements but also the strength of its broader strategic direction. With stable financial performance, expanding innovation efforts, and a deepening ESG agenda, Hyundai enters the coming years with a reinforced global presence and the potential for further advancement.