Journalist

Oh Joo-seok
  • 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
  • Hyundai CEO Munoz Signals Push to Expand U.S. Production to Counter Tariffs
    Hyundai CEO Munoz Signals Push to Expand U.S. Production to Counter Tariffs Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz suggested the automaker could expand production in the United States to respond to tariffs. According to Bloomberg News, Munoz told reporters on April 20 in Milan that tariffs are weighing on the company and that the short-term outlook is “really difficult.” Munoz said producing more vehicles in the United States could help the company avoid added costs. Hyundai makes about half of the vehicles it sells in the U.S. locally, while the rest are imported and subject to a 15% tariff, he said. “We need to make efforts to minimize costs,” Munoz said, adding that one of the easiest and most direct ways is to speed up localization. He said Hyundai will aggressively cut costs and adjust prices to offset the immediate financial impact. Munoz also said the Iran war is causing significant disruption in the Middle East, Hyundai’s most profitable market, affecting both demand and logistics. 2026-04-21 14:31:15
  • Kumho Tire to supply tires for Škodas electric SUVs
    Kumho Tire to supply tires for Škoda's electric SUVs SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Kumho Tire will supply original equipment (OE) tires to Czech automobile manufacturer Škoda Auto, the tiremaker said on Monday. Kumho's flagship Ecsta PS71 tires, designed to optimize handling and braking on both dry and wet roads, will be fitted on Škoda Auto's electric SUVs, the Enyaq and Elroq, both built on Volkswagen's MEB electric vehicle platform. Škoda Auto has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group since 2000. The tires, which began with passenger-car radial (PCR) sizes and have since expanded to SUV sizes, now feature a broad lineup capable of supporting major EV models. They incorporate an in-out tread design and hybrid technology to help maintain steering stability at high speeds, regardless of road conditions. "Škoda is one of the most popular brands in the European market, and the latest supply deal reflects recognition of Kumho Tire's product quality and technology," said Kim In-su, an executive at Kumho Tire. 2026-04-13 14:09:56
  • Kias fully facelifted Seltos leads small SUV market last month
    Kia's fully facelifted Seltos leads small SUV market last month SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Kia sold 4,983 units of its Seltos in the domestic market last month, the most in the small sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment for March, according to sales figures released by its parent company Hyundai Motor on Monday. Kia gave the Seltos its first major facelift in six years, giving it a bolder, more angular look in line with the brand's overall lineup, along with improved convenience and safety features. The popular SUV has held the top spot in its segment since 2020, following its release in 2019. Those in their 20s and 30s were the largest group of buyers, accounting for about 30.5 percent, with male motorists slightly outnumbering women. Nearly half of buyers or 45.5 percent opted for the top-trim models, which come with features typically found in higher segments such as comfortable first-row seats and automatic retractable door handles. This suggests that perceived quality including design and convenience features matters more than price alone, even among entry-level or first-time buyers. Its hybrid version accounted for about 38.6 percent of sales. "The latest Seltos is a true all-rounder, combining great design, efficiency, practicality and convenience," said a Kia spokesperson. "We are confident it will appeal to a broad range of customers from first-time buyers to those seeking a versatile vehicle for both everyday use and leisure activities." 2026-04-13 10:30:14
  • Kia to invest 49 trillion won by 2030 with nearly half for future mobility
    Kia to invest 49 trillion won by 2030 with nearly half for future mobility SEOUL, April 9 (AJP) - Kia will invest a record 49 trillion won (about U$32.67 billion) through 2030, allocating 21 trillion won or more than 40 percent to future-focused businesses such as electrification, autonomous driving and robotics, the automaker said on Thursday. The investment plan, unveiled at an investment blitz at the Shilla Hotel in central Seoul, is part of Kia's mid- to long-term strategy to transform into a sustainable mobility solutions company. It marks Kia's biggest investment to date, up 7 trillion won from the 42 trillion won in its previous five-year plan for 2025–2029. Kia plans to launch its first software-defined vehicle with "Level 2+" highway self-driving by the end of next year, followed by "Level 2++" technology in early 2029, allowing autonomous driving on highways and in cities. Kia also said it will integrate its purpose-built vehicles, the PV7 and PV9, with Boston Dynamics' four-legged robot Spot and logistics robot Stretch to tap into what it describes as a new last-mile delivery market, valued at an estimated US$288 billion (426 trillion won) annually. The American engineering and robotics company's humanoid robot Atlas will be deployed in the second half of 2029 at Kia's plant in Georgia with a gradual expansion to its factories worldwide. Kia said it has set its sales target of 3.35 million vehicles for this year, with a goal of achieving a 3.8 percent share of the global market, and aims to sell 4.13 million vehicles by 2030, raising its market share to 4.5 percent. It will also launch nine new internal-combustion models and maintain 13 hybrid models by 2030, building a diversified powertrain lineup, with plans to expand hybrid production capacity by 400,000 units to meet growing demand. "Building on the innovations we have achieved across all areas over the past five years, we will grow at the fastest pace in EVs, hybrids, autonomous driving, and robotics," said CEO Song Ho-sung. Kia set midterm targets of 150 trillion won in revenue with a 9-percent operating profit margin for 2028. By 2030, it aims for 170 trillion won in revenue and a 10-percent operating margin. Kia said it aims to give shareholders at least a 35-percent return over the three years through 2028 and will continue increasing returns in the form of dividends and stock repurchases. 2026-04-09 15:47:38