Hyundai Motor has appointed Thomas Schemera to lead its new High-Performance Vehicle and Motorsport Division. The 55-year-old German has been appointed as the executive vice-president, a position which is effective from March.

The High-Performance Vehicle & Motorsport Division will streamline Hyundai’s strategy, product planning, sales and marketing capabilities for high-performance vehicle operations to maximise synergy between headquarters and the company’s motorsport arm Hyundai Motorsport GmbH, to further develop the high-performance vehicle business. 

Last year, the company launched the high-performance N line-up with the i30 N model, followed by the Veloster N’s world premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year.

Schemera was the former vice-president of Sales & Dealer Development in the mainland and Greater China region for the BMW Group. Hyundai's strategy is to boost synergy between the new division and the Albert Biermann-led high-performance vehicle development at Hyundai Motor Group.