Hyundai is a well-known multinational automobile manufacturer based out of South Korea. In the digital sphere, .HYUNDAI is what is called a top-level domain (TLD). A top-level domain, often referred to as a domain extension, is the final part of the web address following the final dot. Examples of top-level domains include .com, .org, and .edu.
.HYUNDAI falls under a category of TLDs known as brand TLDs. These domains are specific to a particular business or brand, whereas most other TLDs are available for public usage. In this case, .HYUNDAI is owned by Hyundai AutoEver Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of the aforementioned Hyundai Motor Group.
This top-level domain was first recorded by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for coordinating domains and IP addresses worldwide, during the domain’s launch phase in 2016. ICANN has a complete list of TLDs (including .HYUNDAI) and information on their registry operators on their official site.
Like many other brand TLDs, the domain .HYUNDAI has typically been used for corporate and brand-related web locations. Hyundai Motor Group uses this TLD to create a unified online presence for their brand, effortlessly linking their various websites, services, and online assets.
Brand TLDs like .HYUNDAI also provide several benefits to corporations using them. Andrey Kugaevskiy of SitePro News has indicated that these TLDs help brands to strengthen their online presence and brand recognition, improve SEO results, protect the brand from online infringement, and provide unique marketing opportunities.
Another great advantage of using a brand TLD is enhanced cybersecurity. With their own TLD, brands strictly control who can create a website under their domain, helping to mitigate risks from phishing or other cyber threats. This is particularly important for a company like Hyundai, which would want to prevent cyber attackers from creating fake Hyundai websites to deceive customers.
That said, while beneficial, adoption of brand TLDs is still, as of 2021, not widespread. When cz.nic, a Czech domain registry, researched the use of TLDs in 2020 they found that of the 1,930 brand TLDs registered with ICANN, only about a third were actively in use, with the rest “parked” – reserved but not actively forwarding to any specific website. .HYUNDAI, however, is among the ones that are actively in use.
In conclusion, the .HYUNDAI top-level domain is a digital asset belonging to Hyundai Motor Group, used to create a unified, secure, brand-specific digital presence. This approach enhances brand cohesion, bolsters cybersecurity and creates unique marketing opportunities.
Sources;
ICANN’s Official Website
Sitepro News article – “Why Should Businesses Register a TLD?“
CZ.NIC – “New gTLDs – Only a third are in use.”
