Automotive

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  S. Korea's short-term injection of $179 mln into research to nurture automotive semiconductors SEOUL -- South Korea unveiled a short-term injection of 204.7 billion won ($178.8 million) into research and development by next year to nurture automotive semiconductors as a COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global supply and demand, leading to the shortage of key components such as microcontrollers and a price hike. A microcontroller (MCU) is a small computer on a single metal-oxide-semiconductor integrated circuit chip. Microcontrollers are used in automatically con 2021-03-10
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  Hyundai's teaser image shows first SUV of high-performance N brand SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group released a teaser image showing the first sport-utility vehicle of its N brand targeting young consumers who wish to drive high-performance cars. The all-new KONA N is equipped with features such as exclusive alloy wheels and red accents that embellish the side sills. The all-new KONA N will be the latest addition to Hyundai's N brand line-up and the first N model with an SUV body type. In April 2020, Hyu 2021-03-10
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  Kia releases teaser images for first EV based on dedicated battery platform SEOUL -- Kia, a carmaker affiliated with South Korea's Hyundai auto group, released teaser images for EV6, a new sport utility vehicle based on a dedicated battery platform for electric vehicles. The new model shares the platform used for IONIQ 5, a utility vehicle unveiled by Hyundai in February. E-GMP is the auto group's battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform. Unlike other ordinary electric vehicles with a battery system and an electric motor put on 2021-03-09
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  Hyundai auto group holds groundbreaking ceremony for fuel cell plant in China SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group held a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for a fuel cell plant in China. It would be the group's first overseas plant to produce fuel cells. To cope with competition with foreign companies in China's fast-growing hydrogen market, the auto group has established distribution networks in the world's second-largest economy with regional partners. In December 2020, Hyundai introduced its hydrogen fuel ce 2021-03-02
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  Hyundai auto group recalls 81,701 electric vehicles at home and abroad SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group will recall 81,701 electric vehicles at home and abroad after an interim state investigation showed fire risks caused by potential defects in lithium-ion batteries produced by an LG plant in China. The recall came a day after the auto group declared an all-out entry into the global market with IONIQ 5, a new crossover utility vehicle installed with a dedicated battery platform. Hyundai said the recall from Marc 2021-02-24
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  Hyundai unveils new utility vehicle 'IONIQ 5' with dedicated BEV platform SEOUL -- IONIQ 5, a new crossover utility vehicle unveiled by South Korea's Hyundai auto group, epitomizes ambitions to become a solid player in the global electric vehicle market as the company has done 45 years ago with its first model, Pony. Hyundai thinks its new electric vehicle is better than Tesla's Model Y in some way. Hyundai described IONIQ 5 as a modern reinterpretation of Pony. The latest CUV installed with a dedicated new battery platf 2021-02-23
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  Hyundai Mobis unveils innovative LED rear lamps for various patterns of design SEOUL -- Hyundai Mobis, a parts-making wing of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, unveiled innovative rear lamps using light-emitting diodes that can be bent flexibly like a thin film. It enables various patterns of design and can achieve miniaturization and energy efficiency because rear and brake lamps can be integrated into a single LED light source. The new product called "HLED" has passed European and U.S. reliability tests, Hyundai Mob 2021-02-22
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  Vueron tests autonomous driving on highway only with Lidar sensor SEOUL -- A self-driving vehicle has made a successful run on an expressway using only a Lidar sensor produced by Vueron Technology, a start-up formed by engineers from South Korea's state-run research university. Lidar, which measures distance by illuminating the target with laser light, is a key element in autonomous driving. Vueron said that the self-driving vehicle equipped with one radar sensor capable of detecting 360 degrees drove 414 kilometers (257 mi 2021-02-16
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  Hyundai auto group releases IONIQ 5's interior images, cabin specifications SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group released interior images of its IONIQ 5 midsize crossover utility vehicle installed with a dedicated new battery platform, saying the interior is furnished with sustainable materials and textiles such as eco-processed leather, bio paint as well as natural and recycled fibers. IONIQ 5 carrying the electric-global modular platform (E-GMP) will be showcased at an online event on February 23. Hyundai said 2021-02-15
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  Hyundai auto group reveals leg-wheel robot for use in extreme, remote locations SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group revealed a leg-wheel robot that functions as a mobile scientific exploration platform in extreme, remote locations. Based on modular platform architecture, the transforming intelligent ground excursion robot (TIGER) is designed to carry various types of payloads while traveling over challenging terrain. The new robot, which is about 80 centimeters long and weighs about 12 kilograms, features a sophisticated 2021-02-10
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  Mando partners with self-driving software company to develop 3D Lidar, 4D imaging radar SEOUL -- Mando, a car parts company in South Korea, partnered with a domestic software company to develop key components for autonomous vehicles such as 3D Lidar and 4D imaging radar. Cooperation will be expanded into future industries such as smart cities, smart factories and unmanned robots. Under a deal on February 9, Mando will use Seoul Robotics' artificial intelligence recognition software to produce Lidar and radar. Lidar measures distance by illuminatin 2021-02-09
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  Hyundai auto group denies discussion with Apple about autonomous vehicles SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group denied any discussion with U.S. technology giant Apple about the development of autonomous vehicles in an apparent bid to dispel rampant speculation and unconfirmed rumors about a potential deal that could have a far-reaching impact on the U.S. electric vehicle market. "We are not discussing with Apple about the development of autonomous vehicles," Hyundai Motor said in a regulatory filing on February 2021-02-08
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  Mando acquires German-Korean joint venture to diversify production of self-driving components SEOUL -- Mando, a car parts company in South Korea, will acquire Mando‑Hella Electronics, a joint venture between Hella, a German auto parts supplier, and the holding company of Halla Group. The deal worth 165 billion won ($148 million) is aimed at strengthening Mando's capabilities to supply self-driving parts and expand its overseas business. Mando‑Hella Electronics (MHE) specializes in electronic auto components for autonomous driving, radars, cameras, an 2021-02-03
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  Hyundai auto group creates new fund to support future mobility startups SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group will create a new fund with banks to support startups with prospects in future mobility, eco-friendly cars, artificial intelligence and connected cars. The fund underlines Hyundai's efforts to become a mobility service company capable of producing air taxis. The auto group launched an open innovation platform called ZER01NE and created its first fund in 2018. The group tied up with Korea Development Bank (K 2021-02-01
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  Hyundai's IONIQ 5 electric vehicle to be released in Europe in late March SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group will release its IONIQ 5 midsize crossover utility vehicle installed with a dedicated new battery platform in March in Europe. It would be sequentially in South Korea and elsewhere. Hyundai said at a conference call on January 26 that IONIQ 5 would be released in Europe around the end of March, carrying the electric-global modular platform (E-GMP) that signals the start of the auto group's full-fledged ca 2021-01-26
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  LG Innotek develops compact digital car key module for enhanced security and accuracy SEOUL -- LG Innotek, the electric component unit of South Korea's LG Group, has developed a compact digital car key module featuring the increased accuracy of location recognition and security technology that can prevent hacking by blocking the manipulation of communication between smartphones or interference with radio waves. Mass-production is possible in 2022. Digital keys allow consumers to easily and confidently use mobile devices to access vehicle 2021-01-25
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  S. Korea demonstrates 20-minute ultra-fast EV chargers in southern resort island SEOUL -- In a bid to accelerate the popularization of electric vehicles and upgrade existing charging infrastructure, South Korea is demonstrating ultra-fast charging stations capable of fully charging a vehicle in just 20 minutes on the southern resort island of Jeju. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups said in a statement that the ministry and Jeju have jointly started a pre-commercialization test for 100 kilowatt-class ultra-fast EV chargers. The resort island was 2021-01-21
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  Innovative electric vehicle charging station makes debut in Seoul as lifestyle complex SEOUL -- An innovative electric vehicle charging station made its debut in Seoul as the first product of collaboration between SK Networks and Hyundai Motor, featuring fast chargers, a coffee lounge, a shared kitchen and an office block so that customers can enjoy a variety of cultural and other activities. SK Networks, a trading and retail arm of South Korea's third-largest conglomerate SK Group, has teamed up with Hyundai Motor to establish a network 2021-01-21
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  SK Innovation makes strategic investment in China's battery service company This picture released by SK Innovation shows a battery exchange station run by Blue Park Smart Energy(Beijing) Technology in Hangzhou, China. SEOUL -- SK Innovation, a major electric vehicle battery maker in South Korea, secured a bridgehead for its foray into China's battery service market with a strategic investment in a battery service subsidiary of BAIC, a state-owned enterprise based in Beijing. The investment underlines SK Innovation's push for 2021-01-21
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  Hyundai auto group makes strategic investment in Israeli startup UVeye SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group has made a strategic investment in UVeye, an Israeli developer of automated vehicle-inspection systems. The investment is part of efforts to use UVeye's products and platforms at various locations across Hyundai's operations globally. UVeye said in a statement published on its website that the company has raised more than $40 million in strategic investments from Hyundai Motor and se 2021-01-20