Automotive

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  S. Korea to develop precision map of ordinary roads for autonomous vehicles SEOUL -- South Korea will develop a precision map covering about 1,400 kilometers (8,699 miles) of ordinary roads as part of efforts to build a nationwide map database for autonomous vehicles. The digital map will be added to the database of precision maps. Map data is available for autonomous vehicle technology developers through a dedicated online platform. Precision maps are three-dimensional digital maps containing on-road information such as the locations of traffic lights, bui 2020-10-05
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  Hyundai auto group forms new unit to develop ultimate mobility vehicles SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group has formed a new unit called "New Horizons Studio" to develop ultimate mobility vehicles (UMVs) targeting customers who have a need for travel in unconventional and off-road terrain. The studio envisions building vehicles to wander with unprecedented mobility by reimagining how vehicles might traverse the world, Hyundai said in a statement.. "We aim to create the world’s first transformer-class vehicle, also known 2020-09-29
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  GS Caltex works with Lotte Rental to provide EV charging service for rental cars SEOUL -- GS Caltex, a major refiner in South Korea, joined hands with Lotte Rental, the rent-a-car wing of Lotte Group, to provide an electronic vehicle charging service for rental cars using existing car chargers. GS Caltex said in a statement on September 23 that the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Lotte Rental to provide an EV charging service for rental cars. GS Caltex operates some 40 charging stations with 46 rapid chargers. Lotte has about 8,000 EVs for sho 2020-09-23
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  Hyudai's EV trucks to be used for cargo transportation in Thailand SEOUL -- Electric cargo trucks produced by South Korea's Hyundai auto group will carry goods from distribution centers to convenience stores in Thailand. After a pilot project this year, EV trucks will be put into commercial operation with ordinary trucks next year. Hyundai Glovis, a logistics wing of the auto group, said it has forged a strategic business partnership with All Now, a logistics unit of Charoen Pokphand Group, the top conglomerate in Thailand, that runs some 12, 2020-09-17
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  Hyundai auto group ships fuel cell systems to non-automotive companies in Europe SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group began shipping its proprietary fuel cell system that would be used by non-automotive companies in Europe to produce a stationary power supply system and mobile generators, reinforcing the group's push for accelerating a hydrogen society. With the fuel cell system, GRZ Technologies, a Swiss firm with hydrogen storage technology, would produce a stationary power supply system for building electricity at peak times. An unnamed energy 2020-09-16
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  ​Hyundai Motor rolls out new marketing strategy to satisfy home-dwellers SEOUL -- Instead of visiting showrooms, consumers can now watch Hyundai Motor's auto-related events at their homes. The company has opened "Channel Hyundai," a non-contact service that can be accessed from 190 countries by using a dedicated smart TV app or other devices such as PCs and smartphones. Hyundai Motor, a top carmaker in South Korea, has rolled out a new marketing strategy that allows car-enthusiasts to remotely enjoy showroom events with smart TVs. "We 2020-09-14
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  Hyundai auto group forges battery alliance with SK Innovation SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group joined hands with SK Innovation, a subsidiary of South Korea's SK Group, to establish an electric vehicle battery ecosystem, starting with cooperation in reusing or recycling spent batteries. The auto group aims to release 44 eco-friendly models by 2025, including 23 full-electric vehicles. So far, Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors have used batteries mainly from LG Chem and SK Innovation (SKI). In December last year, SKI wa 2020-09-08
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  SK Telecom's customized car navigation service applied to Jaguar Land Rover SEOUL -- SK Telecom will apply a T Map-based car navigation service optimized for advanced driver systems and connectivity environments to the infotainment system of new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles to be sold in South Korea. The two companies would cooperate on ways to provide high-quality, high-capacity media services in real time within a 5G vehicle environment. By providing separate lines of telematics and Infotainment, SK Telecom (SKT) said it is possible to personalize infotai 2020-09-01
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  S. Korea tests EV charging Airbnb in Jeju to resolve lack of infrastructure SEOUL -- The economic feasibility of a new platform sharing electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be tested on South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju to build a green mobility ecosystem based on eco-friendly cars. It is aimed at resolving the lack of charging infrastructure and activating small-scall charging businesses. The demonstration of "Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Airbnb" will be staged gradually from August 27 to May next year, according to the 2020-08-28
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  Researcher calls for public use of autonomous vehicles in remote areas SEOUL -- A researcher called for the public use of autonomous shuttle buses or taxis by putting them into underprivileged remote areas where traffic is inconvenient as South Korea's research is concentrated in unmanned driving solutions on urban roads. "It is difficult to use public transportation in areas where there are not many people other than the elderly," Lee Jae-kwan, a senior researcher from the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH), said in an online 2020-08-25
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  Hyundai's KONA electric subcompact SUVs set new range record of over 1,000 km SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor's three KONA electric subcompact sport-utility vehicles have set a new range record of more than 1,000 kilometers on a single battery charge in a test at Lausitzring, a racetrack in Germany. The three factory-spec and unmodified SUVs each traveled 1,018.7, 1,024.1 and 1,026.0 km in a test monitored by Dekra, a European vehicle inspection company, Hyundai Motor said in a statement. Each vehicle's air conditioning and entertainment systems were off and 2020-08-14
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  Hyundai Motor launches new IONIQ brand for three EV models SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor, a top auto company in South Korea, launched its new IONIQ brand for three electric vehicle models installed with a dedicated battery platform called E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) that can run more than 450 kilometers on a single charge. Hyundai said the new IONIQ brand features ultra-fast charging, spacious interior and future innovations that combine design, technologies and services to integrate in-car and out-of-car experiences for a seamless 2020-08-10
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  Kia establishes joint venture to accelerate EV mobility services SEOUL -- Kia Motors, a subsidiary of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, partnered with a domestic technology firm to establish a new mobility service start-up named "Purple M," which is designed to offer customized electric vehicle mobility services. Purple M will be set up between Kia and CODE42.ai to establish a comprehensive and flexible e-mobility service platform and lead the development of a sustainable EV ecosystem. CODE42.ai pioneers the transition to autonomo 2020-07-20
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  Hyundai and state energy company agree to push for expansion of hydrogen ecosystem SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai auto group joined hands with a state energy company to push for the expansion of a hydrogen ecosystem. The two companies will establish a joint venture to build and operate convergence-type charging stations and actively respond to the establishment of charging infrastructure for commercial hydrogen-electric vehicles. Convergence-type charging stations include various functions such as hydrogen production, charging, sales and fuel cell power gene 2020-07-14
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  Hyundai introduces future airbag technology for autonomous vehicles SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor has introduced an airbag technology featuring overall protection of the body of passengers inside a driverless vehicle. To make sure that people do not fly out of their seats, the airbag tightly holds the passenger using fasteners. Compared to conventional cars that have rows of seats facing forward or backward, future cars without the driver's seat can have a totally different seat layout with airbags placed at right places to protect passengers fac 2020-07-13
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  Seoul mayor proposes ban on new registration of internal combustion engines from 2035 SEOUL -- Seoul, the South Korean capital with a population of 9.74 million, proposed a ban on the new registration of any internal combustion engine vehicles from 2035 under the so-called Green New Deal aimed at reducing greenhouse gases. "Quantitative growth centered on efficiency is no longer valid," Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said. "We will push ahead with the Seoul version of Green New Deal, a future strategy for the survival of ourselves, the earth, and humanity 2020-07-08
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  KEPCO develops easy charging method for electric vehicles SEOUL -- South Korea's state electricity company has developed an easy charging method that automatically enables user authentication and payment by simply connecting a charging plug to an electric car. It uses vehicle and payment information stored in electric cars instead of membership card authentication or credit card payment. Electric vehicles applied with the "plug-and-charge" method will be unveiled in 2021. Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) said it wou 2020-07-07
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  First batch of Hyundai's fuel cell trucks heads for Switzerland SEOUL -- The first batch of 10 fuel cell heavy-duty trucks produced by South Korea's Hyundai auto group has left for Switzerland, heralding its inroad into Europe with hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. Hyundai has modified its Xcient truck to produce a fuel cell model capable of delivering a travel range of about 400 kilometers (248 miles) on a single charge. Hyundai said it would ship 50 fuel cell trucks to Switzerland this year as part of a deal with Swiss hydrogen compa 2020-07-06
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  Hyundai Glovis secures $431.8 mln deal to ship Volkswagen cars SEOUL -- Hyundai Glovis, the logistics wing of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, has secured a long-term contract worth 518.2 billion won ($431.8 million) to ship finished cars produced by Volkswagen from Europe to China. With the deal, the South Korean company can increase the loading rate of ships and reduce logistics costs. The contract with Volkswagen Konzernlogistik, the logistics unit of the German auto group, can be extended by two years after three years. Glovis said i 2020-07-02
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  Hyundai Mobis to invest $20 mln in two American venture capital firms SEOUL -- Hyundai Mobis, the parts-making wing of South Korea's Hyundai auto group, will invest $20 million in two American venture capital funds, ACVC Partners and MOTUS Ventures, which are considered to have a good eye for the early exploration of promising technologies from research institutes. ACVC Partners is a venture capital firm based in New York. Motus Ventures, based in Redwood City, California, is a seed venture capital fund and business accelerator focusing on innov 2020-07-02