[[CES 2026]] Hyundai Motor wins Best of Innovation Award for autonomous mobility robotics LAS VEGAS, January 05 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor said Monday it won a top honor at CES 2026 for its next-generation autonomous mobility robot platform, MobED, and plans to begin mass production in the first quarter as it targets the future mobility market. The automaker said MobED received the Best of Innovation award in the robotics category. The Consumer Technology Association, which organizes CES, awards Innovation Awards annually after evaluating entries for innovation, design and technology, with Best of Innovation granted to the highest-scoring honorees in each category. Hyundai said it was the first time the company had received a CES Innovation Award since it began participating in the event, adding that the recognition underscored the competitiveness of its robotics technology and products. The company first unveiled a concept version of MobED at CES 2022 and introduced the production model in December at Japan’s International Robot Exhibition (iREX). After about three years of development, Hyundai said the platform was designed for practical use in both business environments and daily life. MobED’s core feature is its ability to maintain stable movement across challenging terrain, Hyundai said. Using an eccentric-wheel-based Drive-and-Lift module, the robot can adjust its body tilt on uneven surfaces or slopes to improve stability. The platform features a simplified design focused on core functions and can be equipped with interchangeable top modules for applications such as delivery, logistics and filming. It also includes a user-friendly interface, including a separate controller with a 3D-graphics touchscreen. MobED measures 74 centimeters in width and 115 centimeters in length, with a top speed of 10 kilometers per hour. Hyundai said it can operate for more than four hours on a single charge and carry a payload of about 47 to 57 kilograms, depending on the model. The platform comes in two versions: a Basic model for research and development in autonomous robotics, and a Pro version that incorporates autonomous-driving technology. Hyundai said the MobED Pro uses AI-based algorithms combined with lidar and camera sensors to enable safe and efficient operation in complex indoor and outdoor environments. Hyundai said it plans to begin mass production of MobED in the first quarter and sell the platform to customers. “The award shows that Hyundai Motor Group’s robotics technology is evolving in ways that enhance everyday life,” Hyun Dong-jin, executive director and head of Hyundai’s Robotics Lab, said in a statement. “We will continue to advance AI-based autonomous robot-driving technology so it can become an innovative solution that brings us closer to customers.” 2026-01-05 09:49:58

Hyundai Motor Group to showcase AI robotics strategy at CES 2026 SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group plans to present robotics-centered visions for future mobility at CES 2026, highlighting a broader industry shift from vehicles toward robots and artificial intelligence, industry officials said Friday. Hyundai Motor Group will attend CES 2026, which opens next week in Las Vegas, where it will outline its core strategy for AI-driven robotics. A key highlight will be the first live demonstration of Atlas, the humanoid robot developed by affiliate Boston Dynamics. Hyundai Motor Group and Boston Dynamics plan to begin testing Atlas at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the automaker’s manufacturing facility in Georgia, before gradually deploying it at factories in South Korea and other locations. The group is also expected to detail plans to validate robotics technologies through a software-defined factory, using production-line testing to refine and expand its AI robotics ecosystem. Under the strategy, robots would be deployed and verified in manufacturing environments, with operational data fed back into system upgrades. Hyundai Motor Group plans to build out its AI robotics ecosystem in phases, covering robot hardware as well as AI software, services and platforms. Affiliates will also showcase a range of technologies. Hyundai Mobis will present more than 30 mobility-convergence solutions, including its integrated cockpit platform M.VICS 7.0 and electronic control system X-by-Wire, with a focus on securing orders from North American customers. Hyundai Wia is expected to seek new clients by unveiling a future-oriented vehicle climate-control system dubbed “distributed HVAC,” along with next-generation drive components. The growing emphasis on robotics and AI reflects a broader shift in the mobility industry. Several global automakers that attended CES last year — including Toyota Motor, Volkswagen AG, and U.S. manufacturers General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis — will not participate this year, while robotics and autonomous-driving companies are expected to draw greater attention. HL Mando, a major South Korean auto parts supplier under HL Group, will operate a joint booth with affiliates under the theme “robots, AI and mobility,” positioning robotics as a future core business. The company plans to present a mid- to long-term roadmap to enter the robotics market, leveraging its decades of experience in automotive components, software capabilities and global supply chain. This year's CES is expected to highlight technologies such as AI, robotics, mobility, digital health and quantum computing, which are increasingly blurring industry boundaries. 2026-01-02 09:29:26

Hyundai Motor marks 40 years in US as tariffs, EV rivals test growth strategy SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor will mark its 40th anniversary in the United States next year as it confronts a convergence of challenges, including a remaining 15 percent tariff, intensifying competition from Tesla and Chinese electric-vehicle makers, the expiration of subsidies and a rapidly evolving race in software-defined vehicles such as autonomous driving. Attention is focused on whether Hyundai Motor Group can navigate these pressures under the leadership of Chairman Chung Eui-sun. Hyundai entered the U.S. market in 1986 with exports of the Excel, South Korea’s first front-wheel-drive passenger car, produced at its Ulsan plant. Emphasizing value pricing, the automaker sold about 160,000 vehicles in its first year and more than 260,000 the following year, quickly drawing attention from U.S. consumers. The early momentum later faded amid criticism over quality issues and an underdeveloped service network. Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chair Chung Mong-koo subsequently launched a sweeping “quality management” drive aimed at improving quality, safety and performance for customers worldwide, including in the United States. In 1999, the group sought to directly address quality concerns by introducing a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, a move that helped reshape its brand image. Since then, Hyundai has garnered major U.S. awards and positive reviews, alongside steady improvements in both quality and sales. This year, 21 Hyundai Motor Group models earned either Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick ratings in crash tests released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, giving the group a second consecutive year with the highest number of models recognized among the safest vehicles. In J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study, Hyundai Motor Group recorded the best overall performance among 17 global automotive groups, according to the company. The study is widely referenced by U.S. consumers and is a key benchmark for evaluating vehicle quality. Hyundai Motor Group also said it has been named World Car of the Year for four consecutive years. Automotive News, which is marking its 100th anniversary this year, selected three generations of Hyundai leadership — founder Chung Ju-yung, Honorary Chair Chung Mong-koo and Executive Chair Chung Eui-sun — as figures that have had a major impact on the development of the global auto industry. Chung Eui-sun said his grandfather’s customer-centered management philosophy and his father’s emphasis on quality, safety and research and development are deeply embedded in the group’s management principles. Hyundai sold about 896,000 vehicles in the United States from January through November, putting it on track for a third consecutive annual sales record, the company said. Despite auto tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, Hyundai said it limited price increases and instead responded by expanding local production and adjusting its sales mix. In March, the group held a completion ceremony for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, or HMGMA, in Georgia, as it moved to establish a U.S. production system with capacity for up to 1.2 million vehicles. Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest $21 billion in the United States through 2028 across automobiles, parts and logistics, steel and future industries. 2025-12-29 14:27:56

KAI signs $69 million deal to upgrade Philippines' FA-50PH jets SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract with the Philippines on Friday to upgrade 11 FA-50PH fighter jets for about 93 billion won ($65 million). The deal includes aircraft performance upgrades and follow-on logistics support for jets delivered between 2015 and 2017, with work to be completed by 2029, the South Korean aircraft manufacturer said. The upgrade will strengthen the FA-50PH's ability to operate precision-guided weapons, extend its range and sustained-operations capability, and improve network-based joint-operations performance, according to KAI. A total of 23 FA-50PH aircraft, including additional jets contracted in June, are expected to contribute to the Philippine Air Force's airspace defense and modernization efforts. The upgrade reflects requirements drawn from the Philippine Air Force's operational experience and is aimed at improving aircraft performance and operational efficiency. The project reflects ongoing cooperation based on aircraft capability, stable follow-on support and long-term partnership, KAI said. The company said the program demonstrates its ability to serve as a "total solution provider," covering the full life cycle from development and production to follow-on support. Follow-on support and upgrade capabilities over an aircraft's 30- to 40-year service life are increasingly seen as key to export competitiveness, with such costs reaching two to five times the acquisition cost, KAI noted. The company has operated performance-based logistics programs for about 15 years, from the South Korean Air Force's KT/A-1 to the T-50 and Surion aircraft families, demonstrating improvements in availability and reductions in operating and maintenance costs. KAI has expanded its global support operations through Iraq's T-50IQ contractor logistics support program in 2022, a performance-based logistics contract for the Philippines' FA-50PH last year, and Indonesia's KT-1B service-life extension program this year. "This contract once again confirms the trust and cooperative relationship between the Philippine Air Force and KAI," CEO Cha Jae Byung said in a statement. "We will continue to expand our presence in the global defense market through tailored upgrades and systematic follow-on support." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-26 15:50:48

Korean automaker KGM partners with Samsung SDI on developing EV battery packs SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - South Korean automaker KG Mobility (KGM) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung SDI to form a strategic partnership aimed at developing and commercializing electric vehicle battery packs. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly develop cylindrical nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) battery packs and cooperate closely on high-voltage battery pack development, testing and production. The project will use Samsung SDI’s cylindrical 46-series NCA cells, which have a diameter of 46 millimeters. Samsung SDI said the cells offer long driving range and fast charging through high energy density, while improving safety and durability under a wide range of driving conditions. KGM said the cells incorporate high-capacity, high-nickel NCA cathode materials along with Samsung SDI’s proprietary silicon carbon nanocomposite (SCN) anode material, which reduces swelling, increases energy density and extends battery life while maintaining safety. Beyond the battery pack development program, KGM and Samsung SDI said they plan to pursue a longer-term partnership. This includes joint product planning based on Samsung SDI battery cells, cooperation on vehicle lineups, a global branding strategy for overseas markets and a joint review system for emerging technologies. Kwak Jeong-hyeon, head of KG Mobility’s business strategy division, said in a press release that the partnership will help the automaker respond to rapid changes in industry conditions and government policies, including the diversification of battery materials. 2025-12-23 09:46:36

KAI-backed AI firm Meissa raises $7 million ahead of planned 2026 IPO SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said on Tuesday that Meissa, a drone- and satellite-based geospatial artificial intelligence company in which it is a strategic investor, has completed a 9.7 billion won ($7 million) pre-IPO equity financing round. The deal brings Meissa’s cumulative funding to 35 billion won, the company said, adding that the proceeds will be used to upgrade its business operations. Meissa is targeting an IPO in the second half of 2026. As Meissa’s second-largest shareholder, KAI has invested about 8 billion won to date, while gradually expanding technical cooperation with the company across defense software and space-related projects. The latest investment aligns with KAI’s mid- to long-term strategy to internalize core technologies by combining Meissa’s geospatial AI capabilities with KAI’s major aerospace and defense hardware platforms, the company said. Meissa is developing a satellite operations and preprocessing solution designed to collect and analyze large volumes of imagery generated by KAI’s next-generation mid-sized and small-satellite programs in real time, converting the data into immediately usable information. The company said it plans to build an end-to-end infrastructure covering satellite data processing, distribution and utilization, and to strengthen its competitiveness in the satellite imagery solutions market. KAI also plans to integrate Meissa’s automatic 3D map generation technology into its flight simulator hardware to create more realistic virtual training environments and internalize a digital twin solution for simulators. 2025-12-23 09:23:09

Hankook Tire's Hungarian plant donates tires to local community SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Hankook Tire & Technology said on Monday that its Hungary plant has donated 28,000 tires to local government bodies as well as nonprofit and charitable organizations under a corporate social responsibility initiative launched in 2012. The tire firm said said the initiative reflects the environmental, social and governance (ESG) management philosophy of the company and supports sustainable development in the Hungarian community. This year, the plant provided tire donations to around 130 public agencies and organizations, including groups focused on public safety and social welfare, it said. Recipients included child health organizations such as the Peter Cerny Foundation, which specializes in the rescue and transport of premature infants, and the Saint Martin Children’s Ambulance Service, which provides emergency care for seriously ill children. The company said the donations help ensure the reliable operation of their vehicles. Hankook Tire said it also expanded support to disaster response and environmental protection groups, including the Hungarian Water Rescue Service, the Delta National Disaster Rescue Team and the World Wide Fund for Nature. Additional recipients included volunteer neighborhood watch groups and fire departments, a foundation supporting people with disabilities, and animal protection organizations. Since establishing its Hungary plant in 2008, Hankook Tire has carried out community-focused initiatives across the country each year, including tire donations, infrastructure improvement projects, support for vulnerable households and youth scholarship programs, the company said. 2025-12-22 16:01:35

Estonia taps Hanwha Aerospace's Chunmoo rocket system in $320 mil. arms deal SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace has signed a contract worth about 440 billion won ($320 million) to supply its Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher system to Estonia, the company said on Monday. Under the agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will deliver six Chunmoo launcher systems along with three types of guided missiles with ranges of 80 kilometers, 160 kilometers and 290 kilometers. The company said it plans to pursue localization in Estonia, including partial local production and the provision of maintenance, repair and overhaul services, as European defense procurement becomes increasingly bloc-oriented. The deal was underpinned by technology validated through exports and operational deployment of its K9 self-propelled howitzer, as well as South Korea’s defense diplomacy. It cited a memorandum of understanding signed in October between the defense ministries of South Korea and Estonia on the acquisition of the Chunmoo system as a key step toward the contract. Katri Rausepp, a senior official at Estonia’s defense investment agency, said the agreement would help strengthen the country’s military capabilities amid heightened regional security concerns. “In a rapidly changing security environment, securing strong and rapid response capabilities is Estonia’s top security priority,” she said in a press release, adding that the introduction of the Chunmoo system would significantly enhance Estonia’s defense posture. Son Jae-il, chief executive officer of Hanwha Aerospace, said the contract followed the earlier export of the K9 howitzer and reflected continued trust from the Estonian government and military. “Working closely with the South Korean government, we will continue efforts to expand into new defense export markets,” Son said. Hanwha Aerospace said it aims to use the Estonia deal as a foothold to market the Chunmoo system across the Baltics and northern Europe, including Norway, Latvia and Lithuania. 2025-12-22 09:45:25

BYD makes fast inroads in Korea with sales nearing 5,000 EV cars SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) -BYD, China’s largest electric-vehicle manufacturer, has rapidly established a foothold in South Korea’s imported-car market, breaking into the top 10 foreign brands within its first year of local operations. According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association on Dec. 19, BYD sold 4,955 vehicles through November, accounting for 1.78 percent of the imported-car market. Based on recent sales momentum, full-year deliveries are expected to exceed 5,000 units. Only nine imported brands outsold BYD during the period: BMW (70,541 units), Mercedes-Benz (60,260), Tesla (55,594), Lexus (13,894), Volvo (13,388), Audi (10,252), Porsche (9,739), Toyota (8,751) and BMW MINI (7,180). In November alone, BYD ranked fifth among imported brands, trailing only Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo — a notable result for a newcomer. BYD entered the South Korean market in January and has expanded its footprint by emphasizing price competitiveness. The company now operates 28 showrooms and 16 service centers nationwide. Its local lineup debuted with the Atto 3 compact electric SUV, targeting value-oriented EV buyers, and has since expanded to include the Seal midsize electric sedan and the Sea Lion coupe-style midsize electric SUV. Industry analysts say BYD’s early gains have been supported by South Korea’s accelerating shift toward electrified vehicles, driven by Hyundai Motor and Kia’s electrification strategies as well as Tesla’s continued success. Through November, cumulative registrations of electrified vehicles — including battery EVs and hybrids — rose sharply from a year earlier, lifting their share to roughly one-third of new passenger-car sales. BYD’s momentum is also prompting other Chinese EV makers to formalize their Korea entry plans. Zeekr, the premium electric brand under Geely Holding Group, has recently signed dealer agreements with four local partners — H Mobility ZK, IronEV, KCC Mobility and ZK Mobility. Xpeng is also preparing to enter the market after establishing a South Korean unit in June. “BYD’s performance goes beyond a typical new-brand launch and signals a rapid shift in Korean consumers’ perceptions of Chinese EVs,” an industry official said. “The competitive landscape could look very different as early as next year.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-20 12:26:08

KAI secures Surion helicopter contracts worth 71 billion won SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Friday it has signed separate contracts to supply one Surion multipurpose helicopter each to the Korea Coast Guard and the Korea National Park Service. The Coast Guard contract is valued at 38.5 billion won, while the National Park Service deal totals 32.8 billion won, KAI said. Each contract covers one helicopter along with spare parts, ground support equipment and training for pilots and maintenance personnel. The helicopter for the Coast Guard will be equipped with a search radar, a high-performance electro-optical and infrared system, and an automatic identification system for ships to support maritime security and safety missions, the company said. The National Park Service helicopter will be configured for disaster response and will feature a newly developed firefighting water tank that is currently under development. Including the two latest contracts, KAI said it has secured orders for seven Surion helicopters for government use in 2025. In total, the company has signed contracts for 42 helicopters for government agencies, including the police, Coast Guard, forestry and fire services, and national parks, and has delivered 28 of them. KAI also delivered two firefighting helicopters to Iraq’s Interior Ministry in October under a contract signed last year, and that the aircraft have completed initial flights in preparation for operational deployment. KAI Chief Executive Cha Jae-byung said in a press release that he is pursuing overseas marketing based on the aircraft’s performance and mission equipment. 2025-12-19 16:09:47