Author: Min-jae Kim

Hyundai Motor has unveiled the Genesis GV90, an all-electric large SUV that becomes the luxury brand’s largest vehicle and expands its U.S. lineup to seven models. The up to seven-seat EV will be produced at a new Hyundai facility in Ulsan, South Korea, and is expected to go on sale in the United States early next year. Genesis Expands Into Large Electric SUV Segment The GV90 represents a new design direction for Genesis and will be the brand’s fourth electric vehicle offered in the U.S. Genesis expects the model to compete in the large luxury SUV segment against vehicles including…

Shell Lubricants and Hyundai Motor Company have renewed their global partnership for another five years, extending a collaboration that began in 2005. The agreement maintains Shell as Hyundai Motor’s recommended global supplier of aftersales lubricants while expanding joint work on lubricant technologies, vehicle programmes and customer service. The renewal is the fifth since the companies began working together and covers product development, motorsport engineering and aftersales activities. https://evmagz.com/hyundai-starts-ioniq-3-ev-production-in-turkey-after-e250-million-plant-upgrade/ Partnership Expands Into EV-Related Technologies Under the renewed agreement, Shell and Hyundai will continue developing lubricant technologies for Hyundai vehicles and supporting high-performance vehicle programmes. The companies also plan to expand cooperation…

Hyundai has started series production of the all-electric Ioniq 3 at its İzmit plant in Turkey following a €250 million upgrade of the facility. The compact electric car is being produced for the European market, with Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır saying initial annual production is planned at 30,000 units. The start of production makes the İzmit facility Hyundai’s first plant in Turkey to manufacture battery-electric passenger vehicles. The Ioniq 3 is scheduled to enter the European market in October. İzmit Plant Begins Electric Vehicle Production Hyundai has modernised more than half of the İzmit plant over…

South Korea plans to transition newly purchased or leased police vehicles to electric and hydrogen models by 2035, as the government moves to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles across the public sector. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) and Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (MCEE) signed a memorandum of understanding on July 30 to advance the initiative. The agreement was announced at Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, where the agencies also launched a pilot programme for an eco-friendly police station. Police Fleet Begins Shift To Zero-Emission Vehicles South Korea’s police fleet…

Hyundai has appointed former Nvidia and Samsung Electronics executive Junghyun Kwon to lead its Autonomous Driving Development Center, strengthening the group’s efforts to expand autonomous driving, software and artificial intelligence capabilities. Kwon will oversee the development of autonomous driving technologies across Hyundai Group, covering the process from initial concept development through market launch. He will report to Minwoo Park, president and head of Hyundai’s Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division. Former Nvidia Executive Brings AI And Autonomous Driving Experience Kwon brings experience in artificial intelligence, autonomous driving software and robotics. He worked at Nvidia from 2018 to 2023, where he was…

Researchers at Hanyang University in South Korea have identified a previously overlooked ageing mechanism affecting next-generation cobalt-free, nickel-rich battery cathodes, revealing that exposure of precursor materials to air before production can significantly shorten battery lifespan. The findings highlight a manufacturing challenge for emerging high-energy battery chemistries designed to reduce dependence on cobalt while maintaining the energy density required for future electric vehicles. Air Exposure Found to Accelerate Battery Degradation The research focused on cobalt-free cathodes featuring a nickel-rich core surrounded by a manganese-rich protective shell, a material architecture considered a promising alternative for future lithium-ion batteries. According to the study,…

Volvo Car Korea has opened sales of the all-electric ES90 in South Korea, introducing its flagship battery-powered sedan in one of the automaker’s key global markets with a starting price of 72.94 million won (€43,500). The launch positions the ES90 in the country’s premium electric vehicle segment, where it will compete with models including the Mercedes-Benz EQE and BMW i5. Volvo said the Korean pricing is more than 50 million won lower than in major European markets, underscoring the importance of South Korea in the company’s electric vehicle strategy. https://evmagz.com/volvo-begins-production-of-fully-electric-es90-sedan-in-europe/ Volvo Targets More Than 3,000 Annual Sales Speaking at the…

Kia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with KT and SUM to commercialize remote driving services for its PV5 purpose-built vehicle (PBV), with a commercial launch targeted before the end of 2026. Partnership to Advance Remote Driving The agreement brings together Kia, telecommunications provider KT and remote driving technology company SUM to develop the infrastructure and operational framework required for remote vehicle control. https://evmagz.com/kia-expands-pv5-electric-van-range-with-new-entry-level-cargo-and-seven-seat-passenger-models/ The collaboration follows Kia’s first public-road demonstration of remote driving technology in South Korea in November 2025. Remote driving enables vehicles to be operated from an external control center using 4G or 5G mobile networks.…

Hyundai Motor Group has introduced AllDayEnergy, a new global brand that brings together its vehicle-to-everything (V2X) energy services under a single identity as the company expands its electric vehicle energy ecosystem. Unified Brand for Energy Services The AllDayEnergy brand will begin rolling out in the United Kingdom through the Kia App during the second half of 2026 before expanding to other European markets, the United States and South Korea. https://evmagz.com/hyundai-motor-group-opens-waste-to-hydrogen-facility-in-south-korea/ The platform combines three V2X services under one brand: V1G smart charging, which schedules vehicle charging based on real-time electricity prices and grid conditions. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G), allowing electric vehicles to…

South Korea has proposed new carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission standards for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, requiring manufacturers to progressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2027. The draft regulations form part of the country’s strategy to accelerate the adoption of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks and buses while supporting its 2030 climate targets. Three-Phase Rollout The new requirements will be introduced in three stages between 2027 and 2030. The first phase will apply to heavy trucks and tractor units weighing more than 15 tonnes, followed by medium and large buses, before expanding to medium-duty trucks and dump trucks. By 2030,…

Hyundai Motor Group has entered into a partnership with the South Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Korea Environment Corporation to expand Plug and Charge (PnC) technology across the country’s electric vehicle charging network. The initiative aims to simplify public charging by allowing compatible electric vehicles to authenticate and begin charging automatically without requiring mobile apps, RFID cards, or additional user verification. National Plug and Charge Certification System According to Yonhap News Agency, Hyundai Motor Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government to establish a national certification system for Plug and Charge services. As…

South Korea has introduced a stricter approval process for its electric vehicle subsidy programme, requiring manufacturers and importers to pass a comprehensive government assessment before their vehicles can qualify for purchase incentives. Under the new framework, BYD became the only major battery-electric passenger vehicle manufacturer that failed to secure approval, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily. New Evaluation Expands Beyond Vehicle Performance The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Energy assessed manufacturers using a broader set of criteria than in previous years. In addition to vehicle technology, the evaluation examined each company’s technological capabilities, contributions to the domestic supply chain, compliance…

Hyundai Motor has released its 2026 Sustainability Report, outlining progress in renewable energy adoption, corporate governance and workforce development as the company advances its transition toward electrified mobility. The report said Hyundai achieved RE100 targets across its operations in Europe, North America and India, while renewable energy accounted for 76% of electricity consumption at its overseas facilities during 2025. Renewable Energy Expansion Hyundai said its renewable energy progress has been supported through renewable energy certificates, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and other clean energy procurement methods. Among the latest initiatives is a 147-megawatt photovoltaic power purchase agreement at Hyundai Motor Group…

BYD has introduced the Sealion 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid SUV to the South Korean market, marking the Chinese automaker’s first hybrid model launch in the country as it continues expanding its international presence. The company unveiled the model at the 2026 Busan Mobility Show at BEXCO in Busan on June 26 and opened pre-sales with a starting price of 37.5 million won (US$24,430). First Hybrid Model for South Korea The Sealion 6 DM-i, sold in China as the Sealion 06 DM-i, becomes BYD’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) offered in South Korea. The model is one of BYD’s core…

South Korea is considering reallocating part of its hydrogen mobility budget to support electric vehicle (EV) purchase incentives as demand for battery-electric vehicles continues to outpace expectations. According to local media reports, the government is reviewing whether funding currently allocated to hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure could be redirected to the country’s EV subsidy programme, which may run out of funding as early as August. EV Demand Exceeds Expectations South Korea allocated 1.7454 trillion won (approximately €1 billion) for battery-electric vehicle subsidies in 2026. However, stronger-than-expected demand has placed pressure on the programme. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and…

BMW has launched the new iX3 in South Korea, introducing the first series-production vehicle built on the company’s Neue Klasse architecture and marking the debut of several next-generation technologies designed to improve electric vehicle performance, charging, and software capabilities. The electric SUV arrives with BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive powertrain, an 800-volt electrical system, and a certified driving range of up to 611 kilometres under South Korean testing standards. First Production Model on Neue Klasse Platform The iX3 is the first BMW production vehicle to be based on the automaker’s Neue Klasse electric vehicle architecture, which is expected to underpin a broad…

Seoul Semiconductor has begun mass production of its high-voltage (HV) opto-semiconductor technology for four major global automakers across the Americas, Europe and Asia, as the company seeks to expand its presence in the growing electric and hybrid vehicle market. The technology enables 12-volt single-chip operation, compared with the 3-volt LEDs commonly used in automotive applications. According to Seoul Semiconductor, the approach can reduce driver component counts by more than 10% while lowering power consumption by approximately 10% in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles. High-Voltage Architecture Reduces Conversion Losses The HV opto-semiconductor technology is based on a Multi-Junction P-N structure designed to…

Kia has introduced a wheelchair-accessible version of its PV5 electric van, developed in partnership with German vehicle conversion specialist AMF-Bruns. The new model, called the PV5 WAV, is designed for accessible passenger transport and provides space for both a wheelchair user and an accompanying passenger in the rear cabin. WAV stands for Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle. The electric van uses a side-mounted boarding ramp that allows wheelchair users to enter directly from the curbside. Kia said the telescopic two-piece ramp system was designed to adapt to varying road and pavement conditions. According to the company, the ramp reaches a maximum incline…

Kia has started exporting its PV5 electric van to Japan, completing another step toward the commercial launch of the company’s first purpose-built vehicle (PBV) in the country later this spring. The first shipment of the PV5 arrived at Mikawa Port in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, in April and consisted of 34 vehicles. Kia manufactures the mid-sized electric van at its dedicated PBV production facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, where the company has allocated annual production capacity of 100,000 units for the model. The automaker has appointed Sojitz Corporation as local importer and distributor through a wholly owned subsidiary named…

Hyundai Mobis has expanded its portfolio of electric drive systems with the introduction of a new 160-kW powertrain, as the company seeks to strengthen its position in the global electrification market. The supplier, which is part of the Hyundai Motor Group, said the new system complements its existing 250-kW electric drive unit and will be followed by a smaller 120-kW variant aimed at compact vehicles and emerging markets. Hyundai Mobis said the broader product range is intended to support electric vehicles across multiple segments, from smaller passenger cars to premium models. See also: Hyundai Mobis Secures $9.17 Billion in Global…