Author: Min-jae Kim

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…

Hyundai Motor has launched a pilot project in South Korea allowing electric vehicle batteries to be used on a subscription basis, marking a shift toward separating vehicle and battery ownership. The initiative, developed in collaboration with Hyundai Capital, is initially focused on taxi fleets and is expected to expand to private consumers later this year, according to local media reports including The Korea Times. See also: Hyundai Plans to Expand Simulated Gearshift Tech Beyond Performance EVs The program has been enabled by a regulatory exemption approved by Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport South Korea in November, allowing EV bodies…

Hyundai Motor is preparing to extend the simulated gearshift and engine sound technology introduced in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N to a wider range of its electric vehicles, as the company explores ways to enhance driver engagement in EVs. The system, which mimics the feel of gear changes and engine response, has been a defining feature of Hyundai’s high-performance N models. It has already been expanded to additional vehicles such as the Hyundai Ioniq 6 N and Hyundai Ioniq 9, with plans to introduce it to more mainstream models in the future. “We really want to have a proper [driving]…

Hyundai Motor has unveiled the Ioniq V, its first model in the Ioniq electric vehicle lineup developed specifically for China, at Auto China in Beijing. The production-ready model is derived from the recently presented Ioniq Venus concept and forms part of Hyundai’s broader strategy to expand its electric vehicle presence in the Chinese market. Unlike the globally available Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Ioniq V adopts a fastback crossover design, blending elements of a saloon, coupé and SUV. The model introduces a new design language called “The Origin,” tailored for Hyundai’s electric vehicles in China and focused on creating a premium…

Kia has lowered its 2030 electric vehicle sales target to 1 million units annually, marking the second consecutive reduction to its long-term EV ambitions as the automaker adjusts to shifting market conditions. The revised target was announced at Kia’s 2026 CEO Investor Day in Seoul and represents a cut of 260,000 units from the company’s previous goal, which had already been reduced last year. Despite the lower EV target, Kia said it still plans to expand its global EV lineup to 14 models by 2030, including passenger cars, SUVs and dedicated Platform Beyond Vehicle models. Hybrid vehicles are also expected…

Hyundai Motor on Friday officially introduced its electric vehicle brand Ioniq to the Chinese market, marking a renewed push by the South Korean automaker to regain ground in the world’s largest electric vehicle market. The company unveiled the Ioniq brand in China alongside the global debut of two concept vehicles, the Venus Concept and Earth Concept, ahead of the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. Hyundai said the launch represents a milestone in its electrification strategy in China and forms part of its “In China, For China, To Global” approach. “The introduction of the Ioniq brand is a milestone for Hyundai’s comprehensive…

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has revised subsidy rules for electric buses, introducing stricter battery performance criteria that could make it harder for Chinese manufacturers such as BYD, Higer, and Zhongtong to qualify for public funding. Under the updated framework, subsidies for low-floor electric buses will increase to as much as 90 million won (around €52,000), up from a previous flat rate of 87 million won. However, eligibility is now tied more closely to battery energy density, with higher thresholds required to secure full incentives. Authorities said batteries must exceed 500 Wh/L in energy density to qualify for maximum…

U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla has reached the top position in South Korea’s imported vehicle market for the first time, surpassing traditional internal combustion engine competitors as demand for EVs accelerated. Data from the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association, cited by The Korea Herald, showed Tesla delivered 20,964 vehicles between January and March 2026, up 335% from a year earlier. The performance placed it ahead of BMW, which sold 19,368 units, and Mercedes-Benz with 15,862 units. The increase was driven by a surge in March, when deliveries exceeded the combined total from January and February. Earlier in the quarter,…

South Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution has launched its participation in SDVerse, becoming the first battery company to join the business-to-business (B2B) automotive software marketplace as it expands beyond hardware into software and services for software-defined vehicles (SDVs). SDVerse, co-founded in 2024 by General Motors, Magna, and Wipro, provides a platform where automotive companies can list, search, and evaluate software solutions. LG Energy Solution is contributing five software products to the marketplace: Battery Platform SW, Safety Diagnostic Calibration Tool, Onboard FRISM, Onboard BLiS, and Onboard DASH. These offerings cover battery diagnostics, degradation analysis, and performance simulation, reflecting the company’s…

Porsche will introduce its all-electric Cayenne in South Korea in the second half of the year and confirmed that all of its electric vehicles sold in the country will use locally sourced battery cells, as the company adapts to consumer preferences and regulatory scrutiny. The Cayenne Electric, first unveiled in November 2025, is currently in series production in Slovakia and will join the brand’s existing electric lineup in South Korea, including the Macan Electric and the Taycan. Mathias Busse said the company is confident in its localisation strategy. “We feel very confident for having Korean batteries in all our Porsche…

South Korea’s competition regulator has fined Mercedes-Benz the equivalent of about €6.5 million for allegedly misleading consumers about the battery suppliers used in some of its electric vehicle models. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said the automaker promoted its Mercedes-Benz EQE and Mercedes-Benz EQS models as using battery cells supplied by CATL. According to the regulator, certain variants of these vehicles were instead equipped with battery cells from Farasis Energy. The KFTC said dealership sales guidelines stated that all EQE and EQS vehicles were fitted with CATL battery cells, while information about Farasis-supplied batteries was not included in dealer…

Hyundai Motor Group Robotics LAB has launched the MobED Alliance, a collaborative initiative designed to accelerate the commercialization of its MobED mobile robot platform in South Korea. The alliance was unveiled during Automation World 2026 in Seoul and brings together component suppliers, robotics solution providers and industry organizations to support the domestic rollout of the robot platform. Initial partners include automotive component suppliers Hyundai Transys and SL Corporation, robotics firms LS THiRA-UTECH and Kaon Robotics, and the Korea Association of AI Robot Industry. The group plans to develop ten industry-specific modules that can be mounted onto the MobED platform for…

Lenovo and South Korean autonomous mobility firm SWM have announced a partnership to co-develop a Level 4 autonomous robotaxi platform designed for deployment in several international markets. The platform will combine SWM’s AP-700 Autonomous Driving Platform with Lenovo Vehicle Computing’s AD1 Autonomous Driving Domain Controller, which is built on the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor computing platform. According to the companies, the AD1 system is designed to support high-performance autonomous driving applications and is based on NVIDIA Blackwell Architecture, delivering more than 2,000 TFLOPS of artificial intelligence processing power at FP8 and INT8 precision. The computing platform is intended to support…

SK On and POSCO have signed a lithium supply agreement running through 2028, covering up to 25,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate sourced from Argentina. The volume is expected to support the annual production of approximately 400,000 electric vehicle batteries, according to SK On. The lithium concentrate will be used in battery-electric vehicle projects in Europe and North America, as well as in stationary energy storage systems. See also: SK On, Seoul National University Report Breakthrough in Single-Crystal Cathode Research SK On said the agreement forms part of its broader effort to diversify its raw material supply chain. South Korean media…

Qnovo said it has received a strategic investment from Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, as the companies expand cooperation on battery management software for electric mobility applications. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Qnovo develops software designed to monitor and manage lithium-ion battery performance through predictive, physics-based algorithms. The company said the investment will support wider deployment of its battery intelligence platform across current and future electric vehicle architectures. See also: Qnovo Partners with Sonatus to Accelerate AI-Driven Battery Safety Integration for Software-Defined Vehicles The move comes as global battery demand continues to rise, driven by growth…

Porsche will equip all electric vehicles sold in South Korea exclusively with Korean battery cells starting this year, according to a report by The Chosun Daily. The move affects the Macan Electric, which until now has been fitted with battery cells from CATL. From the 2026 model year onward, vehicles sold in South Korea will use cells supplied by Samsung SDI, the newspaper reported. See also: Porsche Weighs Cancelling Electric 718 Models Amid Cost Pressures and Delays The Taycan and the upcoming Cayenne Electric already use battery cells from LG Energy Solution. The reported change therefore applies primarily to the…

bitsensing has introduced an aftermarket advanced driver assistance system for commercial vehicles, aiming to improve road safety and regulatory compliance for fleet operators through a retrofit-ready solution. The Seoul-based radar specialist said its newly launched ADAS Kit combines radar and camera technologies to provide real-time warnings for collision risks and blind-spot hazards during driving, manoeuvring and stationary scenarios. The system is designed for buses, trucks and other large fleet vehicles, which typically face higher safety risks due to extended blind spots and longer braking distances. The ADAS Kit uses a sensor-fusion architecture that integrates radar sensors powered by NXP Semiconductors’…

Kia has unveiled a fully electric pickup variant of its PV5 electric transporter, expanding its push into the light commercial electric vehicle segment under its “Platform Beyond Vehicle” (PBV) strategy. The PV5 pickup has opened for orders in South Korea with prices starting at 43.45 million won ($25,200), according to the automaker. The model shares its front-end design with the PV5 van up to the B-pillar, but replaces the rear body with a metal panel and open load bed, creating a configuration similar in concept to flatbed electric vans offered by other manufacturers. See also: Kia PV5 Earns Global Awards…

Hyundai Mobis said it secured $9.17 billion in global orders in 2025 from automakers outside its parent group, beating its annual target by 23% as demand for electrification components and electronic systems rose and its customer base expanded in China and India. The South Korea-based automotive supplier had initially targeted $7.45 billion in orders for the year. The stronger-than-expected performance was driven mainly by contracts for battery systems and chassis modules from North American and European customers, as well as increased orders for advanced electronic components, the company said. See also: Hyundai Mobis Develops 5G-Based Integrated Telematics Unit for Connected…