Author: Min-jae Kim

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…

A Korean-Chinese consortium has delivered 249 hydrogen fuel cell buses to Guangzhou’s state-owned public transport operator, marking a significant milestone for fuel cell mobility in China, the partners said. The buses were supplied under a partnership between HTWO Guangzhou, a hydrogen fuel cell subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, and China’s Kaiwo Group, which operates internationally under the Skywell name and markets vehicles under the Skyworth brand. The companies described the programme as “one of the largest hydrogen bus projects in China”. See also: Hyundai Motor Group and Pyeongtaek City Partner to Develop Korea’s First Green Hydrogen Port The delivery completes…

Hyundai Mobis said it has partnered with three European technology specialists to accelerate the development and mass production of holographic windshield displays, aiming to secure a leading position in next-generation in-vehicle display systems. The South Korean auto parts maker announced the formation of a so-called “Quad Alliance” with Germany-based ZEISS, tesa, and France’s Saint-Gobain Sekurit. The collaboration brings together expertise in optics, adhesive technology and automotive glazing to commercialise holographic windshield displays (HWD) by 2029. See also: Hyundai Mobis Develops 5G-Based Integrated Telematics Unit for Connected Cars The HWD technology projects driving and infotainment information directly onto a vehicle’s front…

South Korea’s Incheon has opened a hydrogen mobility hub at Incheon International Airport, marking a significant step in the city’s long-running push to deploy hydrogen in transport and reduce emissions from high-mileage commercial vehicles. The hub, located in the Terminal 2 car park, includes a liquid hydrogen refuelling station designed to support the transition of airport shuttle buses and other commercial vehicles to hydrogen. The facility covers about 2,771 square metres and can dispense up to 320 kilograms of hydrogen per hour, enough to refuel as many as 240 large hydrogen buses per day, according to project partners. See also:…

Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology outperformed rival autonomous driving systems in a recent internal evaluation conducted by Hyundai Motor, according to people familiar with the matter cited by South Korean technology outlet TheElec. In the assessment, Tesla’s FSD (Supervised) system scored 90 out of 100, ranking first among all technologies tested. Systems developed by Huawei scored 70, while solutions from Mobileye and Momenta each received scores of 50, the sources said. Hyundai’s own autonomous driving system, known as Atria AI, scored 25. See also: China-Made Tesla Model Y Surges in South Korea as EV Market Rebounds, KAMA Says The testing…

Chinese new energy vehicle maker BYD is aiming to sell more than 10,000 vehicles in South Korea this year, marking a sharp increase from its first full year in the market, as the company accelerates its overseas expansion. The target represents a 64% rise from the 6,107 passenger vehicles BYD sold in South Korea in 2025, according to BYD Korea, the company’s local unit. The figure was reported by The Korea Times, citing the subsidiary. See also: BYD Submits Updated Sealion 05 DM for Approval, Adds Longer Electric Range “While 2025 was a honeymoon period during which BYD worked closely…

South Korean battery maker SK On said it has achieved a significant advance in cathode material research, developing a high-density, large-area single-crystal cathode electrode in collaboration with Seoul National University. The findings, published in the journal Nature Energy, address long-standing challenges associated with conventional polycrystalline cathode materials, which are prone to cracking and gas generation during manufacturing and repeated charge-discharge cycles. See also: SK On Completes Pilot Plant for Solid-State Batteries in South Korea Most lithium-ion batteries currently use polycrystalline cathodes composed of aggregated crystals. By contrast, single-crystal cathodes consist of particles formed from a single crystal, a structure that…

Kia plans to further increase the use of digital technology in the interiors of its next-generation vehicles while retaining physical buttons for key functions, its interior design chief said, as the automaker seeks to balance advanced features with ease of use. The South Korean carmaker’s current models rely heavily on touchscreens for infotainment and climate controls but still include traditional switchgear for essential functions. That approach sets Kia apart from several newer Chinese rivals, which have moved toward minimalist interiors dominated by digital interfaces. See also: Kia Unveils GT Variants of EV3, EV4 and EV5 at Brussels Motor Show “We…

Kia on Tuesday unveiled an updated design for its Niro crossover in South Korea, giving the long-running eco-focused model a sharper exterior and a more digitalized interior, while raising questions about the long-term position of the fully electric Niro EV in the brand’s expanding electric vehicle lineup. The Kia Niro, first introduced in 2016, has undergone several incremental updates over the years. The second-generation model, launched in 2022, has been offered with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains. The latest facelift brings the Niro closer in appearance to Kia’s newer electric models such as the Kia EV3, Kia EV5,…

South Korea’s electric vehicle market returned to growth last year, driven by government subsidies and strong demand for a handful of popular models, with the China-made Tesla Model Y emerging as the single best-selling vehicle, industry data showed. According to the “2025 Domestic Electric Vehicle Market Final Report” released on Jan. 20 by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), new electric vehicle registrations in South Korea rose 50.1% from a year earlier to 220,177 units. The rebound followed two consecutive years of decline and pushed the EV penetration rate to a record 13.1%, the association said. KAMA attributed the recovery…

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will raise electric vehicle subsidies in 2026 by topping up national incentives with additional local funding, expanding support for private buyers, fleets and commercial vehicles, according to a report by The Korea Times. The city plans to subsidise a total of 22,526 electric vehicles in 2026, an increase of about 18% compared with 2024 levels. Of that total, 22,409 vehicles are earmarked for private purchasers, while 117 units will be allocated to public institutions. Applications for the programme are set to open on Jan. 26 through South Korea’s national zero-emission vehicle portal. Subsidies for electric passenger…

Legacy automakers are increasingly caught between defending near-term profitability and sustaining long-term investment in future mobility, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Group said on Jan. 16, highlighting mounting pressure from tariffs, slowing demand and intensifying competition from Chinese brands. Yang Jin-su, director of mobility industry research at Hyundai Motor Group’s Management Research Institute, said global auto markets are entering a period of entrenched low growth just as development costs for next-generation technologies continue to rise. Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Korea Automotive Journalists Association in Seoul, Yang said the combination could force companies into difficult management trade-offs. See…

General Motors said its luxury brand Cadillac plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup and retail presence in South Korea, following the local launch of the all-electric Escalade IQ late last year. GM Korea, the automaker’s South Korean subsidiary, said the brand is preparing to introduce additional battery-electric models during the current calendar year while also opening new Cadillac showrooms in major urban centers. The expansion is aimed at increasing brand visibility and customer access in a market where demand for premium electric vehicles is growing. See also: Tesla Adjusts South Korea Lineup, Cuts Prices and Streamlines Model 3 Offerings…

Hyundai Motor Company’s all-electric Ioniq 9 has been named World’s Best Large SUV at the 2026 Women’s Worldwide Car of the Year (WWCOTY) Awards, as the manufacturer continues to build momentum in the global electric vehicle market. The flagship SUV was selected by a jury of 84 female automotive journalists from 54 countries, who assessed vehicles on criteria including safety, quality, design, performance, ease of driving, environmental impact and value for money. The Ioniq 9 prevailed against nearly 20 competitors in the large SUV category and will now advance to compete for the overall WWCOTY Supreme Winner title, to be…

Genesis has delayed the launch of its flagship GV90 electric SUV until the second half of 2026, pushing back the arrival of what the automaker has described as its most ambitious and luxurious model to date, according to South Korean media reports. The full-size electric SUV, billed by Genesis as an “ultra-luxe” offering, had originally been slated to enter production at Hyundai Motor Group’s Ulsan plant by the end of last year, with sales expected to begin in early 2026. Hyundai’s product development roadmap released last May had already shifted mass production to June 2026, and a new report by…