Automotive

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  SK nexilis to complete construction of thin copper foil plant in Poland in 2024 SEOUL -- The subsidiary of SKC, a chemical material unit of South Korea's SK Group, will complete the construction of a thin copper foil plant with an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons in Poland in the first half of 2024. The plant is part of a strategy to establish a global production system. SKC said that its wholly-owned subsidiary, SK nexilis, would invest 900 billion won ($691 million) to complete the construction of its plant in Poland in the first half of 2024. It 2022-07-08
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  Mexico favored by S. Korean EV component makers to circumvent U.S. trade restrictions SEOUL -- Mexico is emerging as a place favored by South Korean electric vehicle component makers to circumvent trade restrictions imposed by the United States where demand for electric vehicle components is increasing with the expansion of renewable energy and eco-friendly transportation means. At Ramos Arizpe, a city in the Mexican state of Coahuila, POSCO International, a trading arm of South Korea's steel group POSCO, held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 6 for its plant to 2022-07-07
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  POSCO acquires domestic producer of silicon-based anode materials for batteries SEOUL -- South Korea's leading steel group POSCO unveiled a new goal to boost the production of key materials for batteries after acquiring a domestic manufacturer of silicon-based anode materials in a deal that would help reduce the group's dependence on Chinese raw materials. POSCO Holdings said it has signed a stock purchase agreement to acquire 100 percent of Tera Technos, a silicon anode startup with a high-temperature liquid production technology with excellent heat 2022-07-05
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  [INTERVIEW] Mobility expert recommends bold strategy to turn entire S. Korea into test bed SEOUL -- As a technological revolution unparalleled in human history creates innovative changes in mobility, an expert with career experience in future platforms such as autonomous driving recommends a bold test bed strategy for South Korea to secure competitiveness in mobility in a short period of time. Cha Doo-won, head of the CHA Mobility Research Institute, demands urgent government support to acquire domestic mobility personnel, pointing to a competitive push worldwide to s 2022-07-01
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  POSCO Chemical partners with British startup Britishvolt to develop and supply battery materials SEOUL -- POSCO Chemical, a unit of South Korea's top steel group POSCO, has secured a new partner for the expansion of its business in Europe through a deal with Britishvolt, a battery startup based in Britain, to develop and supply materials for electric vehicle batteries. Under a memorandum of understanding, the two companies agreed to cooperate on the joint development of battery materials to be used in Britishvolt's batteries and promote supply contracts. Along with t 2022-06-30
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  Solus board approves $187 million investment in copper foil factory in Canada SEOUL -- Solus Advanced Materials, an electric component and copper product maker in South Korea, earmarked about 240 billion won ($187 million) for investment in the construction of a battery copper foil factory in Quebec, Canada. The plant is to start the mass production of 17,000 tons of foils in the second half of 2024. Solus said its board endorsed the proposed investment of 240 billion won in its subsidiary, Volta Energy Solutions (VES), which will own the foil factory in Cana 2022-06-28
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  LG Innotek develops new car radar module with world's highest resolution and performance SEOUL -- LG Innotek, the electric component unit of South Korea's LG Group, unveiled a new in-vehicle radar module capable of detecting the presence or movement of life using radio waves. The module boasting the world's highest resolution and performance can prevent theft and identify the location and number of passengers in all seats as well as bio-signals and movements. With the aim of commercializing its new module in 2024, LG Innotek vowed to actively target global mar 2022-06-28
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  Hyundai Mobis unveils smart cabin controller to monitor and analyze biometric signals in real time for safe driving SEOUL -- Hyundai Mobis, the parts-making unit of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, unveiled a smart cabin controller that can monitor and analyze various biometric signals such as driver's posture, heart rate, and brain wave in real time to ensure safe driving or prevent drunk and drowsy driving. The system consists of four sensors, a controller that analyzes bio-signal information, and software logic. This is the world's first healthcare-only controller that can integra 2022-06-23
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  Two Hanwha units invest $115 million in American UAM partner Overair SEOUL -- Two units of South Korea's Hanwha Group will invest $115 million together in their American partner, Overair, which develops electric and hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, for urban air mobility (UAM), an ecosystem covering personal air vehicles and infrastructure. The two companies acquired Overair's convertible note, which is a form of short-term debt that converts into equity, typically in conjunction with a future financing round 2022-06-14
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  Researchers localize laser LED hybrid headlamps for commercial vehicles SEOUL -- South Korean researchers have localized laser light-emitting diode hybrid headlamps that can be applied to commercial vehicles and digital lights. Laser headlamps can focus light on a narrow area, reduce the size of optical systems, and enable free design. The Korea Photonics Technology Institute (KOPTI) has applied an ultra-precision optical system design to develop new headlamps which can easily recognize vehicles and people from long distances while minimizing the obs 2022-06-13
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  Hyundai Steel's new alloy steel for EV reduction gears wins state certification SEOUL -- Hyundai Steel's new alloy steel for reduction gears, which is a high-performance material for electric vehicles, has secured government certification as a new excellent technology that will receive state support for early commercialization. An electric vehicle has reduction gears between its motor and wheels. Hyundai Steel, the steel-making unit of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, said it has developed alloy steel manufacturing technology for reduction gears. Hyun 2022-06-09
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  Pilot car-hailing service using self-driving electric vehicles begins in crowded urban district SEOUL -- A pilot car-hailing service using two electric vehicles with autonomous driving technology began in one of the most congested areas in Seoul. South Korea's Hyundai auto group has turned IONIQ 5 models into self-driving vehicles that require intervention by human drivers only in case of an emergency. A ceremony was held on June 9 at a Hyundai Motor building to launch the pilot service called "RoboRide" in Gangnam, a crowded commercial district in southern Seou 2022-06-09
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  LG Chem establish precursor joint venture with domestic firm to strengthen battery material value chain SEOUL -- LG Chem, a chemical unit of South Korea's LG Group, will establish a precursor joint venture with a domestic company to strengthen its battery material value chain. Precursors are raw materials for cathodes, which are manufactured by combining metals such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, and aluminum. KEMCO will own 51 percent of the joint venture, and LG Chem controls 49 percent. The construction of a joint venture plant is to begin in July for mass production in the sec 2022-06-02
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  Research body develops device capable of reducing vibration and impact in railway cargo transportation SEOUL -- South Korea's state-run railway research body has developed a device that can reduce the vibration and impact of transporting vulnerable railway cargo such as electronic products, flat panel displays and semiconductors. It was described as a practical and economical device that is easy to install and remove with a simple configuration. The vibration reduction device can prevent cargo damage by reducing more than 60 percent of vibration and 80 percent of impact by usin 2022-05-24
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  Volkswagen vehicle installed with LGES battery sets new Guinness record in Bolivia mountain SEOUL -- A Volkswagen vehicle installed with a high-capacity and high-performance battery from LG Energy Solution, a major battery maker in South Korea, has set a new Guinness record as the world's highest driving electric vehicle which was tested in rough terrains in a dormant volcano in Bolivia. Volkswagen's new top-of-the-range model, ID.4 GTX, has successfully completed its mission to drive Mount Uturuncu in the Sur Lípez Province of Bolivia on May 18. The moun 2022-05-24
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  Hyundai Mobis unveils next-generation 'swivel' display for self-driving cars SEOUL -- Hyundai Mobis, the parts-making unit of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, has developed the world's first variable display technology that moves a large curved screen. It is optimized for an integrated diver's seat system for self-driving cars. The 34-inch swivel screen applied with 6K high-resolution OLED panels moves up and down. It is a multi-curved screen that can be bent in three stages from top to bottom, Hyundai Mobis said, adding that the display can be 2022-05-20
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  Hyundai auto group unveils massive investment plan to boost domestic electric vehicle production SEOUL -- In an unheralded announcement, South Korea's Hyundai auto group came up with the proposed investment of some 21 trillion won ($16.6 billion) to boost the domestic production of electric vehicles to 1.44 million units per year by 2030. The domestic production of electric vehicles in 2022 is estimated at 350,000 units. Without specifying where and how much their investment will be funneled, Hyundai Motor and its affiliate, Kia Motors, vowed to enhance a domestic electri 2022-05-18
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  Hyundai Motor works with domestic firm to develop lidar for self-driving robots SEOUL -- As part of its strategy to implement a new "Mobility of Things" ecosystem using robots, South Korea's Hyundai auto group will work with a domestic company to develop a miniaturized lidar system for mobile robots. The goal is to develop a self-driving robot that can move stably between obstacles or on uneven roads by expanding the range of object recognition. Hyundai Motor Group said that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Smart Optical Sensors 2022-05-17
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  Hyundai's future mobility concept envisages Ondol underfloor heating method SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group has released a future mobility concept that would allow passengers to fully rest while on the move in the era of self-driving by applying a specially designed "full-flat" seat and a unique heating system inspired by the underfloor heating method of Ondol that can maintain heat for an extended period and keeps both the floor and the air warm. In traditional Korean architecture, Ondol used heat from kitchen furnaces to warm the 2022-05-16
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  Hyundai Mobis works with German partner Vector to develop AUTOSAR-based standard software platform SEOUL -- Hyundai Mobis, a parts-making wing of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, will develop a standard software platform with its German partner, Vector, to maximize the competitiveness of vehicle software in the global automobile market. Hyundai Mobis has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vector for the joint development of AUTOSAR-based software platform. AUTOSAR is a development partnership of automotive interested parties with the aim of creating an open and sta 2022-05-12