With daily dire financial headlines, Hyundai Motor America opts to not kick consumers when they're down.

Beginning January 2, Hyundai is providing a complimentary vehicle return program on every new Hyundai that is financed or leased for owners who experience an involuntary loss of income within twelve months of the purchase date. The "Hyundai Assurance Program" provides new car buyers who lose their income protection against negative equity and credit rating concerns and expands the protection offered through "The Hyundai Advantage: America's Best Warranty," which has provided ten-year, 100,000-mile powertrain protection to Hyundai owners for a decade. Complimentary for one full year, the Hyundai Assurance Program covers all Hyundai models and is available to everyone.

"We understand a consumer's hesitance to commit to large purchases in today's economic environment," says John Krafcik, acting president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "Ten years ago, Hyundai's industry-leading warranty provided peace of mind to consumers about Hyundai's quality and reliability. Today we're extending that peace of mind to cover a consumer's employment status and personal finances."

Partnering with WALKAWAY USA, LLC, Hyundai will provide a private label version of WALKAWAY Protection for Automotive Financing, as a complimentary twelve-month vehicle return program provided on every new Hyundai that is financed or leased at participating dealers. WALKAWAY USA, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EFG Companies, a Dallas-based, national performance management company serving the retail automotive industry.

WALKAWAY USA holds the exclusive U.S. distribution license to the WALKAWAY program originated in Canada. Since its introduction in Canada in 2000, WALKAWAY has made it possible for consumers to walk away from over $35 million in automotive-related debt and has provided WALKAWAY retailers with a competitive sales advantage.

"We are pleased to collaborate with Hyundai in offering this program through an automaker for the first time in the United States," says Paul Budvitis, president of WALKAWAY USA, LLC. "WALKAWAY is one of the most innovative products to hit the auto-finance marketplace, addressing a consumer's most pressing challenge to purchasing a new car in today's economy."

The Hyundai Assurance Program, the first of its kind for an automaker in the U.S. auto industry, allows consumers to walk away from a financing obligation when certain adverse life events occur, providing protection from financial shortfalls that arise from vehicle depreciation (negative equity) up to $7,500.

Available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment history or financed amount of the vehicle, the program is complimentary for the first twelve months of the financing or lease date for vehicles financed through Hyundai Motor Finance Company and other third-party lenders and financing sources. Covered circumstances include:

• Involuntary unemployment
• Physical disability
• Loss of driver's license due to medical impairment
• International employment transfer
• Self-employed personal bankruptcy
• Accidental death

Consumers must have made at least two scheduled payments on their loan or lease, be current on all payments, and pay for any outstanding balance above the $7,500 benefit amount which results from negative equity.

Once the benefit is approved by the Hyundai Assurance administrator and the customer pays any outstanding balance, the customer returns the vehicle to the selling dealer, whose appraisal is factored into the valuation formula, and the consumer avoids further financial obligation or negative impact to his/her credit. The dealer is then able to remarket the vehicle.

For more details about the Hyundai Assurance Program, please visit www.HyundaiUSA.com or www.HyundaiAssurance.com.