Automotive

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  Hyundai drops teaser images for full-size concept electric SUV 'SEVEN' SEOUL -- South Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor has released sneak-peek images for "SEVEN," a full-size concept electric sport utility vehicle through its website. The latest brainchild of Hyundai will be showcased at an annual automotive show in Los Angeles on November 19. "SEVEN is a concept car that embodies Hyundai's design and technology visions for a full-size electric sport utility vehicle," the carmaker said, adding the concept car ex 2021-11-04
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  SK Innovation makes strategic business alteration to develop batteries for diffusion models SEOUL -- SK Innovation became the second South Korean company to make a strategic alteration in business policy and tap the market for electric vehicle batteries based on lithium iron phosphate that has been dominated by Chinese companies. The change came after foreign carmakers such as Tesla and Volkswagen disclosed intentions to adopt batteries for diffusion models. South Korean battery makers have tried to produce efficient and high-end batteries, such as NCM that contains ni 2021-10-29
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  Hyundai auto group partners with U.S. company to develop all-solid-state batteries SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group partnered with Factorial Energy, a solid-state cell technology developer in the United States, to jointly develop new technologies for all-solid-state batteries which are seen as a next-generation power source for electric vehicles as solid electrolytes are nonflammable and more stable. Solid-state batteries can have a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries and enable faster charging, higher voltage and longer cycle life. Com 2021-10-29
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  Hyundai Kefico secures deals from Indonesia partners to supply electric motorcycle drive systems SEOUL -- Hyundai Kefico, an automotive electronic management system company affiliated with South Korea's Hyundai auto group, has secured double deals to expand its presence in Indonesia's rapidly growing electric two-wheeled vehicle market, based on its brand, Mobilgo, which is equipped with total control solutions such as vehicle control, Internet of Things, and cooling systems. Electric motorcycles will accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in Indonesia because m 2021-10-27
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  Level 4 autonomous cooperative driving to be demonstrated on real urban road SEOUL -- Level 4 autonomous cooperative driving technology will be demonstrated on a real urban road with intersections and traffic signals. Infrastructure such as roadside base stations and precision electronic maps has been prepared to verify driving and communication performance using a total of 10 connected and self-driving cars. Unlike autonomous levels 1, 2, and 3 that assist human drivers to conveniently reach their destinations, level 4 is fully autonomous. A level 4 self-dr 2021-10-26
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  Hyundai Mobis develops all-in-one EV wheel system capable of crab walking SEOUL -- South Korea's car parts maker Hyundai Mobis has developed an integrated all-in-one electric vehicle wheel system that has steering, braking, suspension and drive parts. The wheel system, capable of crab walking, is regarded as an essential aspect of purpose-built vehicles such as autonomous shuttles and compact electric buses. The current electric vehicle (EV) drive system is based on a conventional vehicle structure that has an engine room, wheels located inside whee 2021-10-25
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  German company Brose partners with Hyundai Transys to develop seats for future cars SEOUL -- German automotive supplier Brose Fahrzeugteile partnered with Hyundai Transys, a parts-making unit of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, to develop new seats that can be used for self-driving or electric vehicles. They aim to mass-produce future car seats with new technologies in 2025. Hyundai Transys said in a statement on October 13 that it has signed a joint development agreement with Brose to push for the development of a belt in seat (BIS) system and a mechanism s 2021-10-13
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  Hyundai Mobis develops foldable steering system for bigger space in driver's seat SEOUL -- Hyundai Mobis, a parts-making wing of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, has developed an innovative system that can fold the car's steering wheel and place it on the dashboard. The system can move up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) back and forth to secure bigger space for the driver's seat. In an autonomous driving mode, the driver can rotate the seat 180 degrees to create an environment for relaxation and conversation with passengers in the rear seat, Hyundai M 2021-10-12
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  Fintech company Toss acquires troubled mobility startup to benchmark Singapore's Grab SEOUL -- The operator of Toss, a leading fintech startup in South Korea, acquired a troubled mobility startup to disrupt a market dominated by the mobility service wing of the country's web service giant Kakao. The goal is to seek synergy between fintech and mobility services like Grab, a ride-hailing and logistics service in Singapore. Viva Republica said it has signed a deal to acquire a controlling 60 percent stake in Value Creators & Company (VCNC), which runs Tada, fr 2021-10-08
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  SKC dumps idea of setting up joint venture with British silicon anode producer Nexeon SEOUL -- SKC, a chemical material unit of South Kora's SK Group, has dumped the idea of setting up a joint venture with Nexeon, a British battery materials company with a unique silicon anode technology, due to objection by the board of directors. Yet, the company vowed to push for the development of next-generation anode materials. SKC said in a regulatory filing on September 30 that the proposed joint venture with Nexeon was voted down at its board meeting a day earlier. The 2021-09-30
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  DB Hitek embarks on research into GaN and SiC used for automotive semiconductors SEOUL -- DB Hitek, a foundry company in South Korea, has embarked on research into silicon carbide and gallium nitride semiconductors, as a shortage in a disrupted global supply chain highlighted the strategic importance of automotive semiconductors. Gallium nitride (GaN) is used as a key part of power amplification devices for mobile communication and high-performance military equipment. Due to high power density and voltage breakdown limits, GaN is emerging as a promising candid 2021-09-30
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  GV60 drivers can use Samsung phones as digital key powered by ultra-wideband SEOUL -- Drivers of GV60, an electric sport utility model released by Genesis, the luxury brand of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, can use Samsung's new Galaxy smartphones as a digital car key powered by ultra-wideband technology, which is a short-range, wireless communication protocol using radio waves to operate, much like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Ultra-wideband (UWB) transmits radio waves at a much higher frequency, enabling highly accurate spatial awareness and directional 2021-09-30
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  LGES develops new all-solid-state battery technologies to advance commercialization SEOUL -- The battery-making wing of South Korea's LG Group developed innovative technologies that can advance the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries that use composite-type solid electrolytes instead of liquid electrolytes, using micro-sized silicon particles which are comparatively cheap and easy to use. All-solid-state batteries are seen as a next-generation power source for electric vehicles as solid electrolytes are nonflammable and more stable. They can have a 2021-09-24
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  LG Electronics acquires Israel's cybersecurity platform developer Cybellum to bolster car component business SEOUL -- LG Electronics strengthened its component business for vehicle hardware and software by acquiring Israel's cybersecurity platform developer Cybellum in a deal that would reach about $110 million. The home appliance maker regards cybersecurity as an important element in next-generation vehicles which are evolving into complex systems connected with numerous components LG Electronics said it has signed a contract to secure a 63.9 percent stake worth $89.46 million in Cy 2021-09-23
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  State demonstration project launched to commercialize hydrogen trams by 2023 SEOUL -- South Korea launched a state demonstration project to commercialize hydrogen trams by 2023. Fuel cells for automobiles would be modified for 380-kilowatt trams. The project is aimed at securing South Korea's competitive edge in the global eco-friendly train market through early commercialization. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy pledged the injection of about 42.4 billion won ($36 million) for the development of technologies, saying hydrogen trams can be an al 2021-09-23
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  Hyundai Motor's dog-like safety service robot deployed for pilot operation at auto plant SEOUL -- A dog-like safety service robot based on Spot, a four-legged robot developed by Boston Dynamics acquired by South Korea's Hyundai auto group, was deployed for pilot operation at an auto plant in South Korea. It is equipped with diverse technologies suitable for autonomous patrol services at industrial sites, including task management and deep learning-based vision technology. The pilot operation was introduced at a plant run by Kia Motors, a subsidiary of the auto gro 2021-09-17
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  Genesis introduces new technologies such as face recognition, fingerprint authentication SEOUL -- Genesis, the luxury brand of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, has introduced new driver-friendly technologies such as a fingerprint authentication system and "Face Connect" that allows vehicles to recognize human faces, open and close doors without a fingerprint authentication system using a smart key. Genesis will apply new technologies to its first electric sport utility model, GV60, which will be released soon. The Face Connect system features a near inf 2021-09-16
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  Heavy-duty trucks to be mobilized for demonstration of platooning on expressways SEOUL -- For the early commercialization of limited autonomous driving by commercial vehicles, heavy-duty trucks will be mobilized for a state project to demonstrate platooning technology on a controlled section of expressways. Truck platooning is an autonomous driving method that interlinks two or more trucks to drive in a formation and communicate with each other and share on-road information. In the logistics industry, attention has been paid to crowd or cluster driving for large 2021-09-08
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  Hyundai auto group showcases concept hydrogen-powered hybrid sports car SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group showcased a concept hydrogen-powered hybrid sports car with a maximum output of over 500 kilowatts that can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour in less than four seconds and achieve more than 600km on a single charge. The concept model called "Vision FK" installed with a fuel cell energy converter was presented at an online forum in which the auto group presented plans to popularize hydrogen by 2040 thr 2021-09-07
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  Hyundai auto group presents new vision to transform Genesis into zero emission brand SEOUL -- As part of its goal to pursue a carbon neutral brand, South Korea's Hyundai auto group presented a new vision of electrification to transform its luxury brand Genesis into the producer of zero-emission vehicles, saying new Genesis vehicles would be all be purely electric from 2025. "Genesis is once again at the starting point of another audacious journey - the journey towards a sustainable future," Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun declared in a statement release 2021-09-02