Hyundai Motor Co.’s three-door sports car Veloster won a design award in the transportation category of the 2011 Good Design Awards, one of the most prestigious industrial design awards in the world, the company said Tuesday.

The 2011 Veloster features asymmetric three-door where a single rear passenger door is on the right side with a rear hatch look.

“Hyundai Motor Group’s design continues to be recognized in the global design awards. Hyundai’s Veloster, Kia’s Pride and concept car KV7 were winners of 2011 Good Design Awards in auto parts,” the carmaker said in a statement.

Established in 1950, The Good Design Awards are presented annually by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design together with The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. About 500 designs across the fields of electronics, sports, branding, graphics and transportation won awards from 48 countries this year.

The company said on Friday that former BMW designer Christopher Chapman will head its design team at the Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. in the U.S.

“With the renowned designer, the HATCI, located in Irvine, California, will develop innovate designs aimed at global markets,” Hyundai Motor said in a statement.

By Cynthia J. Kim (cynthiak@heraldcorp.com)