# Hyundai: A Message to Space

> Hyundai reported over 70 million YouTube views for its desert message to an astronaut.

- Owner: Hyundai Motor Company
- Kind: Campaign
- Sector: Auto & mobility
- Seed date: 2015-04-09
- Peak date: Week of Apr 22, 2015
- Date basis: Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 56 (Notable, provisional), v1.2
- Mechanics: Real-world spectacle, Platform jump, Controversy, Press loop, Visible in use

## Summary

Hyundai filmed Genesis cars tracing a daughter's message to her astronaut father. The ad reached news, TV and Twitter, and topped April's YouTube ads chart. Hyundai reported over 70 million views by January 2016; paid and organic views were mixed.

## Timeline

- 2015-04-09 — Hyundai Motor Company (YouTube) — Hyundai released the film showing cars writing Stephanie's message to her astronaut father.
- 2015-04-13 — Hyundai Motor Company (Open web) — Hyundai announced the campaign and invited visitors to create and share virtual messages.
- 2015-04-14 — TIME (Press) — TIME covered the girl's message to her astronaut father and linked readers to the Hyundai ad.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/hyundai-a-message-to-space

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Hyundai: A Message to Space.” Case HIS-00222. Spread Score v1.2: 56/100. Updated 2026-10-17. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00222