Author: Min-jae Kim

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…

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said they have developed a new materials design approach that could help overcome key performance and cost challenges facing solid-state batteries, a technology widely seen as safer than conventional lithium-ion cells but difficult to commercialise. KAIST said on Jan. 8 that a joint research team led by Seo Dong-hwa of its Department of Materials Science and Engineering, together with researchers from Seoul National University, Yonsei University and Dongguk University, had devised a method to improve solid-state battery performance using low-cost raw materials. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed…

Genesis has disclosed pricing for the GV60 Magma, its first high-performance production model, as the South Korean luxury automaker moves into a more performance-focused segment a decade after becoming an independent brand. The GV60 Magma, which will be sold in a single trim, is priced at 96.57 million won ($72,000) based on an individual consumption tax rate of 3.5%, Genesis said on Jan. 13. The company described the model as its first high-performance vehicle designed to compete with established premium and supercar brands. See also: Genesis Unveils GV60 Magma as First High-Performance Production EV with 478 kW Output https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY4uXgKW-2s Genesis…

Hyundai Mobis and Qualcomm Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop software-defined vehicle (SDV) and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) solutions, as automakers increasingly shift toward centralized, software-driven vehicle architectures. The agreement brings together Hyundai Mobis’s system integration, sensor fusion and perception capabilities with Qualcomm’s automotive system-on-chip technology. Initial development will focus on solutions built on the Snapdragon Ride Flex platform, with early applications aimed at emerging markets such as India, where demand for ADAS features is expanding across multiple vehicle segments. See also: ZF and Qualcomm Team Up on Turnkey ADAS Platform for Level 3 Automation…

Genesis’s upcoming off-road-oriented luxury SUV has been spotted testing in public for the first time, offering an early look at a vehicle that appears notably more restrained than the concept shown by the brand last year. The model was first previewed in April 2025, when Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand unveiled the X Gran Equator Concept at the New York International Auto Show. Genesis described the vehicle as its first “adventure vehicle concept,” aimed at bringing a more refined approach to overlanding and off-road travel. The concept featured a distinctive, minimalist design with rugged elements, including auxiliary lamps, a split-opening…

South Korean automaker KGM said it has signed a strategic agreement with battery maker Samsung SDI to jointly develop next-generation battery pack technologies, as the company accelerates its transition toward battery-electric vehicles. KGM, formerly known as SsangYong until its rebranding in 2023, said the partnership will focus on battery packs using Samsung SDI’s 46-millimetre cylindrical cells based on nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) chemistry. The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding and are already working on battery packs intended for integration into KGM’s future electric vehicle lineup. See also: Samsung SDI Secures $1.36 Billion LFP Battery Deal for U.S. Energy Storage…

Tesla has made a series of quiet adjustments to its vehicle lineup and pricing in South Korea, streamlining available variants while lowering prices across several models, according to updates on the company’s local website. The changes include a reduction in Model 3 offerings, with the U.S. automaker now selling only the Performance version of the sedan in the South Korean market. The previously available Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range variants have been removed from the configurator, leaving the higher-performance model as the sole option for buyers. See also: Tesla Delivers First Cybertrucks Outside North America in South Korea Alongside the…

South Korea’s LG Energy Solution said on Friday it has agreed to terminate a 3.9 trillion won ($2.7 billion) battery supply contract with Germany’s Freudenberg Battery Power Systems, citing the partner’s decision to abandon its battery business. In a regulatory filing, LG Energy Solution said the cancellation was made by mutual agreement after Freudenberg revised its business strategy. The move comes just a week after the battery maker disclosed the loss of another major contract, this time with U.S. automaker Ford Motor, involving an electric vehicle battery supply deal valued at around 9.6 trillion won. Ford last week announced it…

Kia has appointed Soohang Chang as President and Chief Executive of Kia Europe, effective Jan. 1, 2026, as the automaker sharpens its focus on electrification across the region. Chang, currently head of Kia’s Middle East and Africa operations, will succeed Marc Hedrich, who will remain with the company and move into the role of President of Kia France, Kia said. Hedrich previously held the French leadership post from 2021 to 2023 and has been credited with strengthening the brand’s position in the market. See also: Kia Europe Tests Cell-Level Battery Passport Ahead of 2027 EU Mandate Kia said Chang brings…

Hyundai Motor Group has announced a broad round of senior management appointments, naming Manfred Harrer as President and Head of its Research and Development Division, effective Jan. 1, 2026. The group said the personnel changes are intended to accelerate its transformation into a software-driven mobility company. In his new role, Harrer will be responsible for strengthening the group’s Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) capabilities through closer integration across software and related development areas, while leading next-generation vehicle and platform programmes. See also: Hyundai Self-Driving Chief Chang-Hyeong Song Steps Down Amid Strategic Shift Debate Harrer joined Hyundai Motor Group in 2024 and currently…

Samsung SDI announced Wednesday it has finalized a contract valued at over 2 trillion won ($1.36 billion) to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy-storage systems (ESS) to an undisclosed major U.S. energy company. The deal, which calls for deliveries over approximately three years beginning in 2027, signifies a strategic shift for the Korean battery maker, whose primary focus has historically been on nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) cells. See also: Samsung SDI, BMW, and Solid Power Partner on Solid-State Battery Validation Project The contract is notable as the first time Samsung SDI has publicly announced an LFP-based ESS supply agreement. It…