Hyundai Motor employees participate in Hyundai Green Zone program in China ’ s Inner Mongolia to prevent desertification . ( Hyundai Motor ) Hyundai Motor , South Korea ’ s top automotive company by sales , ranked No . 1 in terms of contribution to society in China last year , the company said . This marks the first time that a foreign - based company has been selected first place since the Chinese government began compiling the annual list in 2014 . Hyundai scored 91 . 33 points out of 100 in 2017 and came in first place out of 300 companies operating in China , the company said . “ Hyundai Motor Group is an exemplary company , continually carrying out unique activities for public interest , ” Zhong Hong Wu , director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences CSR research center , said in a statement . “ In particular the company ’ s business in Inner Mongolia to prevent desertification has shown outstanding results . It is a special case of social activity participated by staff , executives , customers and dealers . ” Hyundai has run the Hyundai Green Zone business to halt desertification in Inner Mongolia for 10 years . In recognition of the carmaker ’ s efforts to sow seeds suitable for the local environment , Hyundai had came in at third place on the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences ’ list of top 50 utility brands for three years in a row from 2015 , the company said .   By Kim Bo - gyung ( lisakim 425 @ heraldcorp . com ) [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >