AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Oh Joo-Seok
  • Kia Unveils Vision Meta Turismo at Milan Design Week
    Kia Unveils Vision Meta Turismo at Milan Design Week Kia said Thursday it showcased its “Opposites United” design philosophy and its latest creative direction at the 2026 Milan Design Week, which opened April 20 in Italy. Now in its 64th year, Milan Design Week is a leading global design event spanning architecture, fashion, automobiles and IT, offering a snapshot of cultural and design trends. Kia staged two exhibitions under the theme “resonance of opposing concepts,” pairing an artwork show focused on inward reflection with an EV concept-car display centered on outward projection. The artwork exhibition, “Journey of Reflection,” featured three spaces with direct participation by Kia designers. The “Cultural Pioneer” space used shifting flows of light to symbolize how diverse ideas come together to form and advance a culture. The “Creative Adventurer” space was designed to react and change with visitors’ footsteps, underscoring the value of challenges experienced through bold action. The “Relentless Innovator” space used a calm setting defined by ceiling light and balance to convey that tranquility can be an inner pause before a bigger leap forward. The EV concept-car exhibition, “Journey of Projection,” was held at the Salone dei Tessuti complex cultural venue. Kia presented six EV concept vehicles, including the Vision Meta Turismo, unveiled for the first time on the global stage, and early concept models tied to the development of the EV2, EV3, EV4, EV5 and EV9. First revealed at Kia’s 80th anniversary event late last year, the Vision Meta Turismo features geometric forms and a refined silhouette, which the company said points to its future mobility vision. “‘Resonance of opposing concepts’ is more than an exhibition theme — it is a milestone in our journey,” said Karim Habib, Kia’s vice president in charge of global design. “It reflects our promise to build a better future through curiosity and continuous innovation.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:50:06
  • Hyundai Casper Electric Tops Auto Bild’s Small EV Comparison in Germany
    Hyundai Casper Electric Tops Auto Bild’s Small EV Comparison in Germany Hyundai Motor said on 23 that its Casper Electric (Inster) won a small electric vehicle comparison test by Germany’s automotive magazine Auto Bild, finishing first in every category. Auto Bild scored the vehicles on a 800-point system across seven areas: body, convenience, powertrain, driving performance, connectivity, environmental impact and cost efficiency. The Casper Electric led all seven categories and scored 558 points, well ahead of the BYD Dolphin Surf (503) and the Citroen e-C3 (501). Auto Bild cited the Casper Electric’s strong power-consumption efficiency as a key advantage in the powertrain category. In Auto Bild’s real-world driving test, the Casper Electric posted an average measured efficiency of 6.71 kilometers per kilowatt-hour, about 20% to 30% higher than the e-C3 (5.49 km/kWh) and Dolphin Surf (5.10 km/kWh). Based on that measured consumption, its calculated real-world range was 308 kilometers, compared with 241 kilometers for the e-C3 and 253 kilometers for the Dolphin Surf. Hyundai also pointed to space use as a differentiator. In the body category’s versatility assessment, the Casper Electric scored 8 points, while the two rivals each scored 2. Auto Bild credited features including a sliding second-row seat and a fully folding front passenger seat, which allow the cabin to be reconfigured for passengers or cargo. The Casper Electric’s braking distance from 100 kph to a stop was 35.8 meters, up to about 3 meters shorter than competing models, Hyundai said. Combined with precise steering, it earned the top score in the driving-performance category. Hyundai said the Casper Electric sold 9,447 units in Europe’s A-segment EV market in the first quarter, up 66% from a year earlier, keeping it among the segment’s leaders. “It is meaningful that the model not only ranked first overall, but also placed first in every category,” a Hyundai Motor official said. The Casper Electric has also won several awards, including the 2026 U.K. TopGear Awards city car of the year, the 2025 World Car Awards world electric vehicle of the year, the 2025 Germany Golden Steering Wheel award for best car under 25,000 euros, and the 2025 U.K. What Car? Awards best small electric city car.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:16:56
  • Tata Daewoo Mobility Unveils Hi-Ssen Medium-Duty Truck to Target Urban Logistics Niche
    Tata Daewoo Mobility Unveils Hi-Ssen Medium-Duty Truck to Target Urban Logistics Niche 타타대우모빌리티가 중형 상용 트럭 신차를 투입하며 도심형 물류 시장 공략에 나섰다. 대형 모델보다 가격 부담을 낮추면서도 적재 성능과 기동성을 함께 확보해 실수요를 겨냥했다. 타타대우모빌리티는 22일 전북 군산에서 신차 발표회를 열고 중형 트럭 하이쎈을 공개했다. 2024년 선보인 전기 중형 트럭 기쎈에 이어 나온 하이쎈은 시장에서 드문 중형급 모델로, 기존 준중형·대형 라인업이 충분히 포섭하지 못한 ‘틈새 시장’을 겨냥했다. 준중형 트럭 플랫폼을 활용하면서도 5t 규모의 적재 중량을 갖췄다. 임중우 타타대우모빌리티 상품기획팀장(상무)은 “중형 시장에서 보조축 미장착 수요가 전체의 32%에 달한다”며 “중단거리 수송과 도심 작업형 특장차에 적합한 성능과 가격을 구현하는 데 개발 철학을 뒀다”고 말했다. 내연기관 트럭인 하이쎈은 중형 최적화에 초점을 맞춘 전략 모델이다. 회사는 전통적인 대형 트럭 이미지보다 실용성을 강조하며 최고 효율(H), 높은(H) 기동력, 다양한(H) 특장을 내세운 ‘3-HIGH’ 콘셉트를 적용했다고 설명했다. 중형급 대비 325mm 낮춘 컴팩트한 캡을 적용해 도심 운행에 맞췄고, 환경차·냉동탑차·덤프 등 특장차 확장성을 고려한 구조 설계를 반영했다. 하이쎈은 중형급 최초로 LED 헤드램프를 기본 적용했다. 실내는 기쎈의 형태를 계승해 승용차 수준의 환경을 구현했다고 회사는 밝혔다. 전축에는 TLS 서스펜션을 적용해 프레임 강도를 확보하는 동시에 경량화 설계로 주행 안정성과 연비 효율을 높였다고 설명했다. 좁은 도심과 골목길, 특장 작업 환경에서의 기동성도 고려했다. 타타대우모빌리티는 하이쎈 출시로 대형 트럭 ‘맥쎈’, 중형 트럭 ‘구쎈’, 준중형 트럭 ‘더쎈’으로 이어지는 쎈(XEN) 라인업을 구축해 전 세그먼트를 아우르는 체계를 완성했다고 밝혔다. 회사는 차세대 수소내연기관(H₂ICE)과 자율주행 기술 개발도 병행하며 친환경·스마트 모빌리티 기업으로의 전환을 추진하고 있다고 덧붙였다. 이어진 타타대우모빌리티 군산 공장 견학에선 하이쎈과 더쎈 생산을 담당하는 LD숍을 찾았다. 이곳에서는 캡과 샤시 조립부터 최종 품질 검사까지 완성차 생산의 마지막 단계를 수행한다. 시간당 약 1.25대 수준의 생산 능력을 갖췄다. LD 공정은 의장 라인과 샤시 라인을 중심으로 구성되며 총 15개 공정을 통해 차량이 완성된다. 의장 라인과 샤시 라인은 각각 6개 공정으로 이뤄진다. 발표 이후에는 시험 양산 중인 전기 중형차 ‘기쎈’에 대한 질의가 이어졌다. 회사는 기쎈의 양산 준비는 마친 상태라고 설명했지만, 상용 트럭 보조금 정책의 직접적인 영향을 받고 있다고 밝혔다. 김태성 타타대우모빌리티 사장은 “정부와 지자체가 지급하는 보조금이 차량 규격 대비 낮아 생산 금액을 맞추기 어렵다”면서도 “올해 말 생산 라인을 가동해 내년에 판매하고, 현재 무공해차 판정을 받지 못한 수소 내연기차 또한 국제 규격에 맞춰 (정부의) 긍정적인 반응을 이끌어 내겠다”고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 09:09:25
  • Hyundai Motor launches Top Eleven mobile game event, Hyundai Next Cup Tour
    Hyundai Motor launches Top Eleven mobile game event, Hyundai Next Cup Tour Hyundai Motor said Wednesday it is running a brand-specific event, the “Hyundai Next Cup Tour,” in the mobile soccer manager game “Top Eleven.” Top Eleven is a soccer management simulation in which players act as a coach, run their own club and develop tactics to build a team. The event runs from Wednesday through May 2 and features missions tied to 10 countries, including Indonesia, Germany and Brazil, selected based on Hyundai Motor’s key sales markets and Top Eleven’s major user countries. Players progress through country-by-country stages, each set as a mission, where they can view Hyundai Motor vehicles representing each country and their features while taking on tactical challenges against teams with different strategies and play styles. In the Germany stage, for example, the Ioniq 9 appears, and its roomy interior is reimagined in-game as an ability called “space creation,” linked to a mission that requires coordinated movement and tactical structure to generate more scoring chances. Players who win at each stage can receive limited-edition in-game items, including Hyundai Motor jerseys and emblems. Hyundai Motor said it expects the event to extend its soccer heritage through an immersive gaming experience and to integrate its brand and products naturally into the game’s story. “Hyundai Motor has communicated with fans worldwide through soccer for more than 25 years, and through the Hyundai Next Cup Tour event we aim to expand soccer’s energy and sense of being on site into the digital environment,” said Ji Seongwon, vice president and head of Hyundai Motor’s Brand Marketing Division.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 08:54:28
  • Hyundai Unveils New Staria Electric and Limousine Models for Premium MPV Push
    Hyundai Unveils New Staria Electric and Limousine Models for Premium MPV Push Hyundai Motor’s Staria is moving further upmarket with an electric version and a top-end limousine trim, as the automaker signals a new push in the multipurpose vehicle market. Hyundai on April 21 unveiled the electrified “The New Staria Electric” and the flagship “The New Staria Limousine” at a media gallery event at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul. The updated Staria keeps a rounded profile with sharper lines. Hyundai said it applied a “seamless” design, adding gold garnish and a black emblem to strengthen a premium look. A long, horizontal front lamp design is integrated into the body for a cleaner face. Offered with hybrid and EV powertrains, the limousine model focuses on what Hyundai called a “premium space,” centered on second-row comfort. The second-row executive seats use semi-aniline leather and include features such as massage and multi-angle adjustments. A 17.3-inch rear display is fitted for passengers to watch content while on the move. Yoo Byung-joo, a senior researcher in charge of product at Hyundai, said the limousine “focused on improving convenience centered on second-row VIP passengers,” adding that the company used top-grade leather and a neck-support headrest to improve seating comfort. The new EV model features charging ports at both the front and rear. It carries an 84.0-kWh fourth-generation battery, with a maximum range of 387 kilometers on a single charge. Hyundai said the EV delivers 160 kW of maximum power and 350 Nm of maximum torque. Using an 800-volt ultra-fast charging system, it can charge from 10% to 80% in about 20 minutes. The model also supports vehicle-to-load, both inside and outside the cabin, to power electronic devices. The hybrid model is based on a 1.6-liter turbo hybrid engine and is rated at 180 horsepower, with maximum torque of 27.0 kgf·m and fuel economy of 12.3 kilometers per liter. Hyundai said it also worked to improve ride comfort and cabin quiet expected of a premium multi-passenger vehicle. Aluminum components were applied to the front and rear suspension. The second-row door glass uses double-laminated sound-insulating glass, and the body thickness around the rear shock absorber mounting was reinforced to better reduce road vibration. Lee Cheol-min, a managing director in Hyundai’s domestic marketing division, said the New Staria is “not simply a model that added an electrified powertrain,” but one that shows the “possibilities of premium” in the MPV market. He said Hyundai aimed to make each moment of travel for work “a comfortable and meaningful space.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 08:35:13
  • BMW to Use AI to Cut Battery Cell Production Time in Half
    BMW to Use AI to Cut Battery Cell Production Time in Half BMW Group is studying ways to use artificial intelligence to cut the time required to produce battery cells by half. BMW Korea said on the 22nd that BMW headquarters and the Regional Center of Excellence for Robotic Technology at the University of Zagreb in Croatia will jointly conduct a research project called “Insight.” The project aims to develop and implement practical AI models to optimize BMW Group’s battery cell manufacturing process. By applying AI-based predictive models to forecast process parameters and performance data in advance, BMW plans to create conditions that reduce material input and production time by more than 50% during battery cell manufacturing. The technology is expected to be used across the battery cell value chain, including electrode production, end-of-line testing and BMW’s in-house direct recycling. BMW’s Battery Cell Competence Center (BCCC) in Munich, Germany, is developing next-generation battery cells. BMW said the Insight project’s AI predictive model is expected to support final approval procedures for battery cells. The company said that if a full analysis can be carried out in advance, it may be possible to skip the “quarantine” step of storing cells at a specified temperature.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:33:15
  • BMW Renovates Suncheon Showroom and Service Center
    BMW Renovates Suncheon Showroom and Service Center BMW Korea said Tuesday that its official dealer, Kolon Motors, has renovated the BMW Suncheon showroom and service center. The facility in Seomyeon, Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, is a three-story building with one basement level and a total floor area of 4,016.9 square meters. Customers can handle vehicle purchases, maintenance and accident repairs in one place. The renovation applies BMW Group’s latest space concept, “Retail Next,” reorganizing customer flow and improving comfort. The second-floor showroom displays six of BMW’s latest models. A new lounge-style handover zone for customers was added on the first floor. The service center also expanded its paint booth to strengthen accident-repair capacity. A Kolon Motors official said the showroom, service center and handover zone are now connected in a single space, allowing customers to experience consistent premium service.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:48:08
  • Kumho Tire wins 2026 German Design Award for Ecsta Sport tire
    Kumho Tire wins 2026 German Design Award for Ecsta Sport tire Kumho Tire said April 22 that it won a main prize at the 2026 German Design Award, citing the honor as recognition of its global design competitiveness. The GDA is an international design competition hosted by the German Design Council, founded in 1953. Kumho Tire received the main prize in the Excellent Product Design category, automotive parts segment, for its ultra-high-performance Ecsta Sport tire. Ecsta Sport is designed to maximize driving performance for high-performance, high-output vehicles. Its tread uses a zigzag layout intended to improve stability at high speeds. The GDA jury said the tire’s distinctive tread design, highlighted by a dynamic checkered-flag motif, gives Ecsta Sport a strong identity, adding that the combination of functional precision and design clarity was particularly impressive. Kim Young-jin, executive vice president and head of Kumho Tire’s R&D division, said it was meaningful for the company to post strong results in major design awards at home and abroad, including the GDA as well as the U.S. IDEA Design Award and Japan’s Good Design Award.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:34:15
  • Eastar Jet Expands Cargo Service to 10 International Routes
    Eastar Jet Expands Cargo Service to 10 International Routes 이스타항공은 22일 화물 운송 사업을 일본, 중화권, 동남아 등 10개 국제 노선으로 확대했다고 밝혔다. 이스타항공은 지난해 1월 인천-방콕 노선에서 화물 운송을 처음 시작한 뒤 도쿄, 오사카, 타이베이, 상하이, 옌타이, 다낭 등으로 노선을 단계적으로 늘려왔다. 지난달 기준 순 화물 수송량은 전년 동기 대비 약 870% 증가했다. 이달에는 홍콩, 정저우, 알마티 노선을 새로 구축했다. 연내 삿포로와 후쿠오카 노선에서도 화물 운송을 이어갈 계획이다. 이스타항공은 여객기 하부 수하물 칸을 활용하는 이른바 ‘벨리 카고’ 방식으로 화물을 운송하고 있다. 이커머스 상품을 비롯해 전자제품, 자동차 부품, 화장품, 의류, 과일 등을 실어 나른다. 또 시장 분석부터 예약, 추적 조회, 품질 평가까지 전 과정을 관리하는 토탈 카고 매니지먼트(TCM) 솔루션을 운영 중이라고 밝혔다. 이스타항공 관계자는 “꾸준히 증가하는 글로벌 항공 화물 수요에 대응해 사업 노선을 적극적으로 확대하고 있다”고 말했다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:09:14
  • China’s EV Market Tilts to Local Brands, Testing Hyundai’s Comeback Strategy
    China’s EV Market Tilts to Local Brands, Testing Hyundai’s Comeback Strategy China’s electric-vehicle market is rapidly consolidating around domestic brands, leaving even Tesla and Germany’s top automakers — Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volkswagen — struggling. Hyundai Motor’s renewed push into China is now being tested. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers on April 21, China produced 34.53 million vehicles last year, up 10.4% from a year earlier. Over the same period, sales of new-energy vehicles — including EVs and hybrids — totaled 16.49 million, meaning one out of every two new cars sold was an electrified model. Chinese policymakers and industry moved quickly toward electrification, judging it would be difficult to catch up with the U.S., Europe and Japan in internal-combustion technology. Backed by strong government support, domestic automakers have sharply increased market share. BYD has begun applying its autonomous-driving system, branded “God’s Eye,” across its lineup this year. BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu pledged that “all customers” would be able to use smart driving. Huawei, Xpeng and others are also using deep-learning, end-to-end systems to absorb real-world urban driving data. Features such as driving in autonomous mode on certain routes and the car finding a parking space and stopping on its own have become commonplace. Domestic brands’ share of China’s auto market rose to 69.5% last year, up 4.3 percentage points from the previous year. BYD (14.7%) and Geely (11%) further solidified their top-two positions, while Volkswagen Group (10.9%) slipped to third. Tesla’s Shanghai plant shipments fell 7% from a year earlier to 851,732 vehicles. China’s advantage is often described as economies of scale. Automakers expanded production on the back of domestic demand, strengthening price competitiveness. A Bank of Korea report published this month, titled “Review of the Key Drivers of Growth in China’s Auto Industry,” said China supplemented core technologies such as engines and transmissions through cooperation with Western manufacturers. Instead, it focused investment on areas where it holds an edge, including batteries, electric motors and rare earths. The report said this helped lower production costs and build a structure able to respond flexibly to policy shifts. Hyundai’s latest bid comes amid that shift. This month, at Hyundai Motorstudio Beijing, the company formally announced the Ioniq brand’s entry into China and unveiled two concept cars. In a market far different from the earlier, combustion-engine era, Hyundai must find a way to compete with domestic giants while also facing established global brands.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 05:05:24