Journalist

Oh Joo-seok
  • Hyundai launches self-driving taxi service with Uber in Las Vegas
    Hyundai launches self-driving taxi service with Uber in Las Vegas SEOUL, March 15 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group's Ioniq 5-based robotaxis can now be hailed through ride-hailing app Uber in Las Vegas, Nevada. Motional, the automaker's autonomous driving joint venture, said Sunday it has launched a pilot robotaxi service with Uber in the city. The service area includes hotels and shopping districts along the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, with coverage expected to continue expanding. The Ioniq 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle, certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, capable of handling all aspects of driving, monitoring, and emergency response without human intervention within specific areas or conditions. Riders can request a trip through the Uber app, set "ride preferences" to prioritize robotaxis, or choose to be assigned to a non-robotaxi vehicle. Fares are the same as standard Uber rides. ​When the robotaxi arrives, riders use the Uber app to unlock the doors and board. After getting in, audio messages provide a greeting and safety reminders, such as fastening seat belts. Riders who need assistance during the trip can connect to a support agent through the app. During the pilot period, a vehicle operator remains in the driver's seat for safety. Motional said it wants to improve the service by gathering feedback from riders and begin fully driverless operations by the end of the year. "Motional is ready to put our extensive ride-hail experience to work with Uber again," said David Carroll, a Motional executive. "We've tested the Ioniq 5-based robotaxi on public roads in urban areas like Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Singapore. And, in Las Vegas, we've conducted over 100,000 public rides with overwhelming customer satisfaction and zero at-fault incidents," the automaker said in a press release. "Las Vegas hotel and casino owners have also allowed Ioniq 5-based robotaxis to practice passenger pick-ups and drop-offs, which is a challenging, but critical, skill for robotaxis." 2026-03-15 12:20:11
  • Renault Korea Launches 2027 Arkana Coupe-Style SUV
    Renault Korea Launches 2027 Arkana Coupe-Style SUV Renault Korea said Sunday it has launched the 2027 model-year Arkana, a coupe-style sport utility vehicle. For the model-year update, the company consolidated both the Hybrid E-Tech and 1.6 GTe versions into a single Iconic trim to streamline specifications. Front-row ventilated seats are now standard, and the price of the optional Camel Brown synthetic leather seat package has been lowered, Renault Korea said. The 2027 Arkana comes standard with 17-inch dark gray alloy wheels, which the company said improves fuel efficiency. The Hybrid E-Tech is rated at 17.4 kilometers per liter in combined fuel economy, while the 1.6 GTe is rated at 13.6 kilometers per liter. Renault Korea said the Hybrid E-Tech incorporates hybrid know-how from Renault Group’s F1 cars and is expected to deliver real-world fuel economy above the official rating. Driver convenience features were also upgraded. The OpenR Link navigation system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto and provides real-time Tmap navigation information. Advanced driver assistance systems are included as standard equipment. To mark the launch, Renault Korea is offering a “New Start” special support program to buyers this month. The benefit applies if the buyer or a family member has had a birth, school enrollment, marriage or newly obtained driver’s license since Jan. 1, 2026. The company is also running a new-model promotion that includes up to three years of interest-free installments for the Arkana 1.6 GTe. Pricing, based on the reduced individual consumption tax, starts at 33,129,000 won for the Hybrid E-Tech (with eco-friendly vehicle tax benefits applied) and 26.4 million won for the 1.6 GTe. 2026-03-15 11:09:16
  • Hyundai Motor Group Unmanned Firefighting Robot Video Tops 30 Million Views
    Hyundai Motor Group Unmanned Firefighting Robot Video Tops 30 Million Views Hyundai Motor Group said March 15 that a video it co-produced with the National Fire Agency introducing its unmanned firefighting robot technology, titled “A Safer Way Home,” surpassed 30 million views in 12 days. The video, released March 3 on Hyundai Motor Group’s YouTube channel, first highlights the dedication of firefighters who run into flames at personal risk. It then shows an unmanned firefighting robot deployed in high-risk sites that are difficult for people to enter. The video has logged more than 45,000 likes and 841 comments. Hyundai Motor Group said the video has drawn strong interest overseas as well. Of the 30 million views, more than half — 17.21 million — came from the English-language version. Viewers by country were South Korea at 43%, the United States at 12%, Italy at 5%, Spain at 4.4%, France at 4% and the United Kingdom at 2%. Commenters expressed surprise at robotics technology, including physical AI, being used to protect people and thanked firefighters. Comments included: “I hope this technology helps protect more firefighters’ lives. Thank you, Hyundai Motor Group,” “Thank you that Hyundai’s technology can serve as a shield for firefighters. It’s moving to see innovation used to save lives,” and “Robot technology: a powerful shield protecting our heroes.” A Hyundai Motor Group official said the company will continue corporate social responsibility efforts for “uniformed heroes” who help keep society safe and will keep a safety-first philosophy at the center of advances in physical AI and robotics technology.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-15 10:51:15
  • Uber Riders in Las Vegas Can Now Request Motional Ioniq 5 Robotaxis
    Uber Riders in Las Vegas Can Now Request Motional Ioniq 5 Robotaxis Hyundai Motor Co.’s Ioniq 5-based robotaxis will be available to hail through the Uber app in Las Vegas. For now, a vehicle operator will ride in the driver’s seat, but the service is set to move to fully driverless operation at SAE Level 4 by the end of this year. Motional, the autonomous driving joint venture of Hyundai Motor Group, said March 15 that it has launched a pilot robotaxi service with Uber in Las Vegas. The service area includes Resorts World Las Vegas, hotels around the Las Vegas Strip, downtown and the Town Square shopping district. Motional said the coverage area will be expanded over time as it begins autonomous service within designated zones in the city’s complex road environment. Riders can request a trip as usual through the Uber app. If the route falls within the pilot zone, an Ioniq 5 robotaxi will be automatically dispatched. Riders can also ask to be reassigned to a standard vehicle. Fares are the same as regular Uber rides. When the robotaxi arrives, passengers unlock the doors through the app and get in. After boarding, audio messages provide a welcome and reminders such as fastening seat belts. Riders can connect to a support agent through the app if they need help during the trip. Motional said its Ioniq 5 robotaxi is an SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle certified under U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, meaning it can handle all driving within set areas and conditions without driver intervention. During the pilot phase, a vehicle operator will ride in the driver’s seat to help ensure safe operation. Motional said it plans to use user feedback to refine the service and begin fully driverless robotaxi operations by the end of this year. “Through AI-based autonomous driving technology, Motional can safely and smoothly drive the wide range of routes requested by Uber users,” said David Carroll, Motional’s vice president of commercialization. Motional and Uber are working to broaden access to autonomous driving services under a 10-year strategic partnership signed in 2022. Earlier that year, they ran a pilot Uber Eats delivery service in Los Angeles, and later conducted a ride-hailing pilot program in Las Vegas. Hyundai said it plans to apply the Level 4 operating know-how and safety validation systems accumulated through the Las Vegas commercialization process to advance the group’s software-defined vehicle development. 2026-03-15 10:15:16
  • Global Air Defense Market Grows as Hanwha, Other South Korean Firms Expand Production
    Global Air Defense Market Grows as Hanwha, Other South Korean Firms Expand Production Demand for air defense weapons is rising in the Middle East and Europe, rapidly expanding the global market and prompting South Korean defense companies to intensify sales efforts and expand production bases. With regional instability persisting in the Middle East, countries are moving more aggressively to strengthen air defense capabilities. According to the defense industry on March 12, Hanwha took part in a defense exhibition opening that day in Brussels, Belgium, promoting systems including the long-range surface-to-air missile, or L-SAM, and the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher. L-SAM is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at high altitude and is often described as a “Korean-style THAAD.” Chunmoo is a weapons system capable of firing various guided munitions. By joining the exhibition in Belgium, home to NATO headquarters, Hanwha aims to accelerate its push into Western Europe. Hanwha Aerospace has secured contracts to supply Romania with K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 armored ammunition resupply vehicles worth $1 billion, and to supply Poland with Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers in deals valued at $3.6 billion for the first phase and $2.2 billion for the second. Lim Kyung-wook, head of Hanwha Aerospace’s Romania unit, said at an international security and defense conference in Bucharest on March 10 (local time) that the company would expand in Europe based on a local factory. The sales push comes as demand for South Korean air defense weapons grows quickly in Europe and the Middle East. Cheongung-II, deployed earlier this month in the United Arab Emirates, has drawn attention for its performance, spreading by word of mouth to neighboring countries. Industry observers have also suggested announcements of additional purchase agreements with multiple Middle Eastern countries could be imminent. As production demand increases, South Korean defense firms are expanding their footprints. Hanwha Aerospace began construction last month on a production plant in Romania aimed at broadening its European supply chain. In South Korea, affiliate Hanwha Systems relocated its Gumi production plant last year, increasing output capacity by about 30%. The facility expanded from 45,000 square meters to 89,000 square meters, roughly doubling in size. LIG Nex1, the lead contractor for South Korea’s missile systems, completed a guided-missile assembly and inspection facility this month in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, for the Fleet-to-Air Guided Missile-II. Korea Aerospace Industries said it built a second hangar near its Sacheon plant in South Gyeongsang Province in line with planned KF-21 deliveries in the second half of this year. “Production lines tied to export contracts are already running at full capacity,” a defense industry official said. “If additional new weapons exports are secured, expanding the workforce will be unavoidable.” Industry officials say shifting security conditions in Europe and the Middle East are creating opportunities for South Korean defense companies. As countries in those regions seek to reduce reliance on U.S.-made weapons and strengthen their own defense industries, analysts say South Korea has emerged as a niche supplier. Choi Ki-il, a professor of military studies at Sangji University, said Europe’s expanding “buy European” approach is changing defense exports from simple weapons sales to deals that also build production facilities. For Middle Eastern countries, he said, difficulties importing weapons from adversary states are combining with a growing tendency to seek South Korea, which he described as having strong ground-weapons production capabilities among NATO countries.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 05:04:57
  • Polestar Discloses Carbon Footprints for Full Lineup, Including Polestar 5
    Polestar Discloses Carbon Footprints for Full Lineup, Including Polestar 5 Swedish premium EV maker Polestar on 12일 disclosed the carbon footprints for its entire lineup, including the four-door grand tourer Polestar 5. Polestar has published lifecycle assessments, or LCAs, for all models since 2020 to identify emissions from materials and manufacturing and reduce the climate impact of vehicle production. For the Polestar 5, total greenhouse-gas emissions before delivery are 23.8 tons, covering the process from raw-material extraction through production and delivery to the customer. The company said it is working to cut emissions by using more environmentally friendly materials. Aluminum is considered one of the most carbon-intensive materials in vehicle manufacturing. Polestar said it overhauled how aluminum is sourced for the Polestar 5: 13% of the aluminum is recycled, and 83% is produced at smelters powered by renewable energy. The company said that reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by more than 14 tons per vehicle compared with conventional methods. Renewable energy also plays a key role in production, Polestar said. The Polestar 5 uses renewable power not only at its manufacturing facilities but also at sites producing battery cell modules and key battery materials, cutting emissions from vehicle, parts and battery manufacturing. Polestar also said it used new materials in the interior to reduce environmental impact and applied circular design to the front trunk. "If you don’t measure it, you can’t reduce it," said Fredrika Klaren, Polestar’s head of sustainability. Disclosing a car’s carbon footprint, she said, "clearly shows where emissions occur" and encourages industry efforts to cut emissions from materials and manufacturing. She added that such transparency is essential to expanding low-carbon materials, renewable energy and circular solutions and reducing the auto industry’s climate impact. 2026-03-12 09:55:05
  • BYD Joins IATF, Global Automotive Quality Standards Body
    BYD Joins IATF, Global Automotive Quality Standards Body BYD said Thursday it has officially joined the International Automotive Task Force, or IATF, which sets international automotive quality standards. The IATF is an international body that oversees global automotive quality management systems. Founding members include major auto industry associations such as the Automotive Industry Action Group in the United States, ANFIA in Italy, FIEV in France, SMMT in the United Kingdom and VDA in Germany, along with many global automakers. BYD said it was recommended by AIAG and approved through a vote of the full IATF membership. The company said the move will allow it to take part in developing international automotive quality management standards alongside global automakers including Volkswagen and General Motors. Zhao Jianping, BYD vice president and chief quality officer, said the membership is “a meaningful achievement” showing international recognition of BYD’s technology-driven, innovation-based development strategy. BYD said it has continued rapid growth in the global eco-friendly vehicle market. In 2025, it posted annual vehicle sales of 4,602,400, ranking No. 1 worldwide in eco-friendly vehicle sales for a fourth straight year. Overseas sales of passenger cars and pickup trucks totaled 1,049,600, up 145% from a year earlier. BYD said it plans to use its IATF membership to strengthen technical cooperation during the auto industry’s shift toward electrification and intelligent systems, and to take an active role in advancing international standards. It also said it will work with global partners to help build a sustainable automotive industry ecosystem and accelerate the transition to eco-friendly mobility.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:30:18
  • Korea Toyota Opens Lexus-Toyota Hanam Showroom and Service Center
    Korea Toyota Opens Lexus-Toyota Hanam Showroom and Service Center Korea Toyota Motor said Thursday it has opened a new Lexus-Toyota Hanam showroom and full-service center in Hanam, Gyeonggi province. The site is a combined hub built around a “3S” concept, offering vehicle sales, service and parts in one location. Customers can handle everything from consultations and contracts to vehicle delivery, maintenance and after-sales service at the same facility. The complex spans about 11,570 square meters (about 3,500 pyeong) across two basement levels and seven above-ground floors, with a showroom, customer lounge and a full-service center. The service center has 10 work bays — six for Lexus and four for Toyota — and can perform regular inspections and general repairs on up to 1,090 vehicles a month. Solar power equipment has been installed on the rooftop to generate part of the building’s electricity use. Manabu Konyama, president of Korea Toyota Motor, said the opening will help provide more convenient service and brand experiences for customers in Seoul’s Gangdong district and eastern Gyeonggi province.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 09:09:16
  • Autonomous A2Z Closes 40.5 Billion Won Pre-IPO Round
    Autonomous A2Z Closes 40.5 Billion Won Pre-IPO Round South Korean autonomous driving company Autonomous A2Z (A2Z) said March 12 it raised 40.5 billion won ($40.5 billion won) in a pre-IPO funding round. Participants included existing investor DS Investment Partners, which served as an anchor, along with Nvestor, KB Investment, KB Securities and Hana Securities. New investors included Daesung Venture Capital, Suin Investment Capital and E&Venture Partners. With 45 billion won raised in the pre-IPO, A2Z said its cumulative funding has increased to 122.5 billion won. A2Z said it will use the funds across its business, including securing inventory to support domestic and overseas expansion, and investing in infrastructure and hiring to develop end-to-end AI autonomous driving technology. The company said the financing will also support preparations for a large-scale autonomous driving demonstration project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. A2Z plans to strengthen technical readiness for participation, including securing in advance controllers, sensors and other vehicle components needed for production. A2Z said it will also invest in diversifying overseas operations. In Singapore, it is operating what it described as the first autonomous shuttle bus service in the city center in collaboration with Southeast Asian super app Grab, and is installing and applying its in-house LiDAR Infrastructure System, or LIS, to the local transportation network. In the United Arab Emirates, A2Z said it recently obtained approval from the South Korean government for autonomous driving exports and is pursuing local contracts. In Japan, it has begun a robotaxi demonstration service. The company said it plans to expand commercialization by introducing autonomous driving technology in stages tailored to each country’s legal and regulatory environment. A2Z said it is accelerating development of hybrid end-to-end autonomous driving technology that combines its existing rule-based system with AI. It plans to invest in infrastructure and hiring to train on real-world driving data and advance its software, while focusing on strengthening safety and stability for commercialization of Level 4 fully driverless autonomous driving. A2Z said it will use the investment to begin full preparations to list on the KOSDAQ market within the year. It plans to file a preliminary review application with the Korea Exchange in April for a technology-special listing. The company selected Hana Securities and KB Securities as joint underwriters in 2023. Chief Executive Han Ji-hyeong said the pre-IPO round was a strategic decision to secure practical execution capability for key projects with governments and companies at home and abroad. He said A2Z will strengthen the foundation for commercialization as it pursues an IPO and aims to expand Korean autonomous driving technology globally through mass production of Level 4 vehicles and building a global data ecosystem.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-12 08:33:45
  • Korean Air Expands Defense Portfolio With Small Drones
    Korean Air Expands Defense Portfolio With Small Drones Rising military tensions in the Middle East amid U.S.-Iran friction have underscored drones as a core capability in modern warfare, with countries moving to field more systems that can deliver high operational impact at relatively low cost. Korean Air, South Korea’s largest airline, is adding drones to its portfolio beyond passenger and cargo transport as it pushes deeper into the defense aviation market. As of March 11, industry officials said Korean Air’s aerospace division is seeking to expand the scope of its unmanned aircraft business with U.S. defense firm Anduril. At Drone Show Korea (DSK) 2026 in Busan last month, the company showcased an AI small drone and swarm-flight drones, among other systems. The small unmanned aircraft drew interest from U.S. Forces Korea and officials from Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern countries, according to reports. Korean Air last year began developing small unmanned aircraft for battlefield use with the Agency for Defense Development and is nearing commercialization, the officials said. Small drones have recently reshaped battlefields in the Middle East and Europe, carrying out missions beyond reconnaissance, including precision strikes and disrupting air defenses. Bloomberg and other outlets have reported that Iran’s main loitering munition, the Shahed-136, costs about $20,000 per unit, while air-defense missiles used to shoot them down can cost billions of won. The U.S. Department of Defense has launched a “Drone Dominance Program” to deploy large numbers of high-performance, low-cost drones. It plans to invest about $1.1 billion through next year to field more than 350,000 expendable, low-cost loitering munitions. Korean Air is also widening its position in South Korea’s defense sector, pursuing development of a medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle about the size of a fighter jet and a low-observable unmanned wingman aircraft. The company completed rollout of its first prototype last year. In military aviation, Korean Air has secured major projects. In August, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration selected the company as the preferred bidder for a 961.3 billion won ($?) performance upgrade program for 36 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. In December, it won a 1.8 trillion won electronic warfare aircraft (Block-I) system development project as part of a consortium with LIG Nex1. It also won an airborne early warning and control aircraft project worth 3.9 trillion won. “To strengthen capabilities in the domestic aerospace business and build a foundation for sustainable growth, we are identifying a range of business opportunities based on the technology and experience we have accumulated,” a Korean Air official said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-11 18:03:42