Hyundai Performance & Motorsport Division created

Hyundai has today officially announced the creation of its ‘High Performance Vehicle & Motorsport Division,’ with a former BMW M boss taking the reins.

The move aims to create better synergy between Hyundai HQ and its racing arm, Hyundai Motorsport, in the creation of high performance cars.

After the i30 N and the announcement of a Veloster N, it’s clear Hyundai wants to expand its presence in the fun-and-fast car market.

But it’s not Albert Biermann who’s in charge of the newly formed group, he’s already in charge of the Performance Development division.

To head up the Performance & Motorsport Division, Hyundai has snagged BMW’s head of BMW M and BMW Individual in the Americas, Thomas Schemera.

Schemera began working for BMW in the 1980s as a design engineer, and has since worked his way up to the top rungs of the M chain, where he has been since 2015.

“I am thrilled to join Hyundai Motor, which is presenting incredible prowess in its high performance technologies through models like the i30 N, despite being relatively new to this competitive scene," Schemera says.

“I will dedicate my expertise and knowledge obtained over my three-decade career to making a significant contribution to Hyundai’s development in this field and to provide pure driving pleasure to our customers.”

The move by Hyundai shows not only that it’s serious about its performance division, but that it’s also serious about the people in its performance division.

Albert Biermann, former BMW M boss and current head of Hyundai Performance Development, has high praise for Schemera.

“Thomas Schemera is one of the most renowned experts in the high performance vehicle business with experience in all of the world’s major markets.

“I am excited he is joining us and I’m confident that his participation will help put Hyundai’s high performance vehicle business onto the fast track.”

The creation of the High Performance Vehicle & Motorsport Division is effective immediately, with Schemera and Biermann set to work together to “further expand customers’ choices for fun-to-drive models.”