South Korea's tire industry is booming, with leaders Hankook, Kumho, and Nexen posting impressive financials, thanks largely to the surging demand for electric vehicle tires. However, they face a sustainability dilemma, as the environmental impact of these tires clashes with the green ethos of EVs. Regulatory shifts could also affect future profits. The recent spotlight on Hankook & Company, which owns Hanbook Tire, following a failed takeover bid by MBK Partners, highlighted the sector

Mobility Jan. 16, 2024

CALIFORNIA CITY, California -- If you want to know how Kia's Telluride SUV managed to rank among the top midsize sporty utility vehicles in the US market last year, or how Hyundai and Kia clinched second place in the US EV market behind Tesla following a record sales year, it’s worth taking a closer look at their California Proving Ground, the Korean carmakers’ extensive vehicle testing facility in the Mojave Desert. “Our focus has evolved from primarily testing internal c

Mobility Jan. 15, 2024

Hyundai Motor Group, following a record-breaking year with US sales surpassing 1.6 million Hyundai and Kia vehicles, is setting their sights high in the US this year to reach a cumulative sale of 1 million eco-friendly vehicles since 2011 and 300,000 luxury Genesis cars, leveraging their strong sales momentum and expanding their eco-friendly and high-end vehicle lineups. Last year, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 1.6 million vehicles in the US, an increase of 12 percent from 2021 and the highest

Mobility Jan. 12, 2024

LAS VEGAS -- HD Hyundai's Vice Chairman and CEO Chung Ki-sun declared on Wednesday the company's transition to a technology-driven construction solutions provider, revamping its traditional heavy industry roots, in a keynote speech at CES 2024. It was the first time that the head of a South Korean company that does not make electronics has delivered a keynote speech at the world's largest tech show. "Construction has always played a pivotal role in building the bedrock of the

Industry Jan. 11, 2024

LAS VEGAS -- Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s air taxi subsidiary, unveiled the next generation of its aircraft, the S-A2, at CES 2024 in Las Vegas on Tuesday, marking a substantial step in its drive to introduce flying taxis. "We have pushed the technical boundaries toward a future where cities are free from congestion and limited mobility. Our goal is to bring air taxi service to both the US and Korean markets by 2028," said Shin Jai-won, executive vice president and head of Sup

Mobility Jan. 10, 2024

LAS VEGAS -- Kia on Monday unveiled a versatile lineup of concept purpose-built electric vehicles at the CES 2024, featuring an all-new modular design architecture, and targeting commercial applications with a focus on sustainability and a blend of hardware and software solutions. The lineup is set for commercialization in 2028. “We are targeting the under-electrified light commercial vehicle market, identifying an opportunity to innovate in a sector burdened by inefficient post-production

Mobility Jan. 9, 2024

LAS VEGAS -- Hyundai Motor Group on Monday unveiled a centralized strategy for its software-defined vehicles and an expanded hydrogen ecosystem during the CES 2024. "Our hydrogen venture is for future generations. ... (Software-defined vehicles) can offer enhanced safety,” said Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, who attended the media conference held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas on Monday Hyundai reinforced its commitment to hydrogen energy by e

Mobility Jan. 9, 2024

South Korean tech companies are gearing up to showcase their latest cutting-edge products and innovations at the upcoming CES 2024, the world’s largest tech trade show that opens Tuesday in Las Vegas. After years of pandemic disruptions, this year’s CES is expected to attract over 130,000 visitors, making it second largest after a record 180,000 visitors in 2020, according to the event organizer, Consumer Technology Association. Under the theme of “All On,” the upcoming C

Industry Jan. 7, 2024

Hyundai Motor Group kick-started the year with a New Year's address on Wednesday at Kia AutoLand Gwangmyeong, South Korea’s first dedicated electric vehicle factory, with Executive Chair Chung Euisun and other top executives sharing the company's vision and commitment to electrification and future mobility. The Hyundai chief reaffirmed the group's focus on "constant change" and "sustainable growth" as key strategies to thrive amid global uncertainties and

Mobility Jan. 3, 2024

LG Display said Monday it will unveil four new automotive display technologies at the upcoming CES 2024 slated for next week in Las Vegas, introducing innovations tailored for software-defined vehicles that heavily rely on multiple advanced displays for various functions. These display solutions aim to improve the flexibility, visual quality, affordability, and safety of screens in software-defined vehicles. Central to LG's showcase is the adaptation of P-OLED, or plastic OLED, technology t

Mobility Jan. 1, 2024

Leaders of South Korea’s top conglomerates are set to converge at CES 2024 in Las Vegas next month to immerse themselves in emerging tech trends and expand global business networks. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won will be making his second consecutive appearance after last year's CES. “I’m also wondering how far artificial intelligence can be evolved. Drastic changes are expected to be made in the next five years. (That’s why) I’m heading to the CES,” th

Mobility Dec. 27, 2023

South Korean automotive technology company Hyundai Mobis said Wednesday it has teamed up with the Marine Corps to develop a novel anti-motion sickness technology for assault vehicles to boost Marines' combat performance on rough terrain. The potential technology is designed specifically for amphibious assault vehicles. Because these vehicles are used for transporting troops from ships to shore through rough, unpredictable sea and land conditions, motion sickness is a common issue that plagu

Mobility Dec. 27, 2023

South Korean undersea cable maker Taihan Cable & Solution said Tuesday that it has acquired Korea's first cable-laying vessel designed specifically for offshore wind power projects, addressing a critical need in the sector. Priced at 50 billion won ($38.4 million), the 6,200-ton CLV outperforms traditional cable-laying barges in enabling faster, more precise cable installation. Capable of sailing at an average speed of 9 knots under its own power, it can transport and lay cables more

Industry Dec. 26, 2023

South Korean agri-food giant Harim Group reaffirmed its commitment to use container transportation and shipping company HMM's substantial cash reserves to bolster the shipping firm's global competitiveness as it moves close its acquisition deal, denying concerns about potential misappropriation of funds. “We are committed to making strategic use of HMM's 10 trillion won ($7.7 billion) reserves to navigate the current challenges in the shipping industry effectively. This mirr

Industry Dec. 26, 2023

Hyundai Motor Group's self-driving mobility division, 42dot, revealed Friday that it will make its debut at the upcoming CES 2024 tech show in Las Vegas to showcase its software-driven vehicle technology. The technology integrates both software and hardware in automobiles, reflecting the digital advancements seen in smartphones and Tesla vehicles. Established in 2019 by Song Chang-hyeon, a former chief technology officer at Korean online platform Naver, 42dot has quickly emerged as a notabl

Mobility Dec. 22, 2023