Automotive

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  Hybrid model of Hyundai's new full-sized sedan Grandeur garners popularity in S. Korea SEOUL -- About 40 percent of consumers who buy the latest model of Grandeur, Hyundai's full-sized sedan also known by the name of Azera in foreign markets, choose the hybrid option, data released by the South Korean carmaker showed. Grandeur, first released in the domestic market through collaboration with Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi in 1986, gained iconic recognition among South Koreans as the "car of a successful person." The full-sized sedan was popular among busi 2023-03-27
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  Hyundai unveils automatic charging robot for electric vehicles SEOUL -- To ease electric vehicle drivers' hassle of having to plug a charging cord into their cars every time, South Korean carmaker Hyundai has developed an intelligent robot that can communicate with vehicles and automatically connect a car to a charger. Currently, electric vehicle (EV) drivers have to park their cars in a parking lot section where EV chargers are installed and manually plug the charger cord into their vehicle. The process is simple but it gets tr 2023-03-22
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  Kia showcases concept model for compact electric SUV 'EV5' exclusive for Chinese market SEOUL -- South Korean carmaker Kia has showcased a concept model for the company's new electric compact sport utility vehicle exclusive for the Chinese market during an unveiling event held in Shanghai on March 20. Kia will seek to secure its foothold in the Chinese electric vehicle market which is growing 87 percent year-on-year. China has the world's largest passenger EV market where one in every four cars sold is an EV, according to Counterpoint Research, a global market 2023-03-21
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  ​Hyundai Motor company becomes world's third-largest carmaker: market data SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group has become the world's third-largest carmaker, thanks to the motor group's clean energy vehicles including electric vehicles which became popular in major car markets in North America and Europe, investor relations data released by various car companies showed. Also, increased sales of Hyundai's luxury car brand Genesis played a vital role in boosting the company's global recognition around the world. Hyundai entered the 2023-03-15
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  Hyundai signs term sheet to acquire GM car factory in India SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor is pushing to acquire a foreign car factory in India for the first time since entering the Indian market in 1996. The company aims to increase its annual production to around 900,000 units and surpass the current leader Maruti Suzuki to take the top spot in the world's fourth-largest car market. According to data released by Statista, a global market analyst firm, India's automobile market is rapidly growing at an annual average growth rate of about 3 2023-03-14
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  Lotte Himart to establish EV charging infrastructure in electronics stores' parking lots SEOUL -- Lotte Himart, a South Korean retailer of electronic goods, has teamed up with domestic electric vehicle charger manufacturer Jungang Control to establish EV charging infrastructure in parking lots at its electronics stores. The retailer has some 400 stores nationwide. South Korea is trying hard to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 by promoting the use of renewable energy and clean fuels. As of the third quarter of 2022, about 340,700 EVs were registered in 2023-01-13
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  LG Uplus to acquire subsidiary's EV charging service business division SEOUL -- LG Uplus, a major mobile carrier in South Korea, will make a foray into the country's rapidly growing electric vehicle charging service industry by acquiring the EV charging business division of LG HelloVision, the cable television network wing of the mobile carrier. South Korea with more than 25 million registered vehicles has 340,700 EVs registered as of the third quarter of 2022. According to the trade ministry, the domestic sales of EVs are increasing by some 80 pe 2023-01-13
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  SwRI to work with Korean automotive technology researchers for autonomous vehicle-related projects SEOUL -- The Southwest Research Institute, a Texas-based nonprofit organization specializing in smart mobility, has partnered with an automotive technology research institute in South Korea to gain a competitive edge in self-driving technology. Various projects such as pedestrian behavior prediction and automatic speed control technology will be carried out. The Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH) said in a statement that it has partnered with the Southwest Research Inst 2023-01-10
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  LG Chem's lightweight plastic material used as exterior part of Mitsubishi vehicles SEOUL -- A lightweight plastic component developed by LG Chem, the chemical unit of South Korea's LG Group, was used as an exterior part of vehicles made by Mitsubishi Motors, one of Japan's largest car makers. The new material which is about 8.8 pounds lighter than steel material can improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. The plastic material called "LUCON TX5007" was used in the front fender of Mitsubishi Motors. Front fenders located on the side o 2023-01-10
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  Tmap Mobility to provide Volvo's new EV with HD map system and driver assistant system SEOUL -- Tmap Mobility, a smart mobility solution wing of South Korea's SK Group, will provide Volvo's new electric vehicle EX90 with a self-developed high-definition map and advanced driver assistant system. The autonomous driving technology solutions will help Volvo's EV safely navigate its way around roads in South Korea. A high-definition (HD) map is a highly accurate map that contains just about every detail which is not normally provided by ordinary maps. The digi 2023-01-09
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  Researchers discover new ways to commercialize batteries with manganese spinel cathode SEOUL -- A surge in the price of nickel and other metals used for lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries prompted researchers to utilize inexpensive manganese (Mn) without performance degradation. The of Mn-rich chemistry has attracted attention as a promising option to realize cathode materials with high economic sustainability, price competitiveness, and reasonable energy density. The state-run Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) said that its energy materials resea 2022-12-20
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  Hyundai releases upgraded version of luxury EV GV60 with facial recognition feature for all trims SEOUL -- Hyundai has released an upgraded version of GV60, a compact sport utility electric vehicle of the South Korean carmaker's luxury brand Genesis, featuring facial recognition, vehicle-to-load, and over-the-air update features to all trims. GV60 was first released in 2019. The first Genesis full-electric SUV was developed using Hyundai's E-GMP platform, a versatile EV platform that plays the role of a base framework for Hyundai and Kia EVs. The rear-wheel-drive mode 2022-12-16
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  Hyundai to supply fuel cell systems to European eco-friendly truck maker SEOUL -- HTWO, a fuel cell system wing of the Hyundai auto group, forged a partnership with ENGINIUS, a commercial eco-friendly truck-making wing of Germany's FAUN Group, to provide fuel cell systems. This is the first time the South Korean carmaker to sign a fuel cell system supply deal with a commercial carmaker. Hyundai's hydrogen fuel cell system brand HTWO was first introduced in December 2020 to develop fuel cell systems for cars, trains, and ships. Targeting China 2022-12-12
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  LG Innotek unveils plastic-glass hybrid lenses for autonomous driving camera modules SEOUL -- LG Innotek, the electrical component wing of South Korea's LG Group, unveiled two types of high-performance hybrid lenses for autonomous driving that reduced size and increased price competitiveness by cross-applying thin plastic and glass to improve performance. The company anticipates a great impact on cameral module markets. LG Innotek said that hybrid lenses for a driver monitoring system (DMS) and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) are 20 to 30 percent thi 2022-12-07
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  Nexen Tire develops AI-based road surface detection and braking distance analysis technology SEOUL -- Nexen Tire, a major tire maker in South Korea, has partnered with Hyundai Motor and a university research team to develop road surface detection technology using artificial intelligence and big data of noises on various types of roads. The technology will be used for autonomous vehicles to analyze the road surface and optimize its braking distance. The braking distance of a car is affected by the types of roads and the condition of car tires. Based on experience and intu 2022-12-05
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  Transport ministry lifts regulations on home OTA updates for EV drivers SEOUL -- South Korea's transport ministry has lifted regulations on over-the-air updates of smart cars and electric vehicles, paving the way for domestic carmakers to have a share in the global OTA market that is growing at a whopping annual average growth rate of 17.9 percent. Customers can also conveniently update their cars at home like smartphones. The over-the-air (OTA) feature allows carmakers to wirelessly update the features and systems of EVs using commercial mobile co 2022-12-01
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  Forklift equipped with Hyundai Mobis fuel cell power pack selected for state demonstration SEOUL -- A five-ton hydrogen forklift equipped with a fuel cell power pack developed by Hyundai Mobis, a parts-making wing of South Korea's Hyundai auto group. The forklift can be quickly charged within 5 minutes and can be used for five consecutive hours on a single charge. Hyundai Mobis has developed a power pack for forklifts using the fuel cell system of hydrogen electric vehicles. The demonstration sponsored by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups began after a ceremony on Nov 2022-11-30
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  SK on ties up with China's GEM to establish nickel joint venture in Indonesia SEOUL -- A U.S. inflation reduction act puts pressure on many South Korean companies to reduce their traditional reliance on Chinese raw materials and set up a diversified supply chain, especially in the manufacturing and distribution of electric vehicle batteries. Realistically, it's hard to cast off the yoke of the world's second-largest economic power which has already established itself as South Korea's indispensable trade partner. SK on, a battery maker affiliated w 2022-11-25
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  LG Display develops 'invisible' thin and light speaker with film-type vibration generator SEOUL -- LG Display, a major flat panel maker affiliated with South Korea's LG Group, has developed a thin and light speaker capable of implementing high-quality sound. When applied to cars, speakers can not be seen in the eyes of passengers, increasing the degree of freedom in interior design, and dramatically reducing the space occupied by conventional speakers to use boarding space more widely. LG Display said its "Thin Actuator Sound" solution would be commercial 2022-11-21
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  Hyundai Mobis unveils new technology to choose in-vehicle screen menu with gestures SEOUL -- A new technology developed by Hyundai Mobis, the parts-making wing of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, allows users to choose the menu they want with just gestures and choose it with one touch. The frequently used menu pops up in the direction of users just by touching their hands close to the vehicle display while driving. The use of vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems will become more convenient by minimizing the driver's movements, preventing visual dispersion, 2022-11-17