![[Photo News] Game-inspired Hyundai Insteroid](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F04%2F01%2Fnews-p.v1.20250401.d3ddaa463fca4be0ba9e513ce55bd139_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
[Photo News] Game-inspired Hyundai Insteroid
Hyundai Motor has unveiled the Insteroid, a concept car with an innovative design based on the automaker's small sport utility vehicle, the Casper, which is sold under the name of the Inster in overseas markets. Born from the combination of "Inster" and "steroid," Hyundai Motor explained that the new concept car has been created with video game-motivated features such as a wider body, wing spoiler and racing game-inspired cockpit. (Hyundai Motor Group)
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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Hyundai Rotem nears W8.5tr K2 tank deal with Poland
Hyundai Rotem, the railway and defense contractor under Hyundai Motor Group, is expected to seal a second K2 tank export deal with Poland worth 8.5 trillion won ($6.3 billion) as early as this month, marking a major follow-up to the initial contract after a three-year gap. According to media reports Friday, Hyundai Rotem has completed major discussions with PGZ, Poland's state-owned defense company, covering key aspects, including the number of tanks, and is now working out detailed arrangements necessary for the final signing. Unlike the first agreement, which specified the initial delivery of 180 tanks out of 1,000 units, the second contract will detail ways for local production and technology transfer in Poland, as well as the additional number of tanks. To bolster its credibility and expedite the negotiations for the second deal, the company reportedly showed its commitment by delivering nine K2 Black Panther tanks in addition to the 12 units in March. This brings the total delivered to 133 units, leaving 47 tanks remaining to fulfill the first contract. On Thursday, the Polish Army's 15th Gizycko Mechanized Brigade announced on Facebook, 'The K2GF Black Panther tanks are now with us,' sharing photos of 9 tanks unloaded at the port of Swinoujscie. The brigade emphasized that these tanks marked another step forward in the modernization of the Polish military. Although no exact timeline has been given for finalizing the second agreement, industry watchers observe that the process is running behind earlier market expectations, which had targeted the fourth quarter of 2024. It was primarily due to extensive negotiations with the Polish government on local manufacturing and technology transfer, along with South Korea's political tensions sparked by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. 'In the case of K2PL models, which will be produced in Poland, there are a number of items on the table, ranging from the procurement of tank components, cost management, maintenance and repair procedures to the scope of technology transfer,' said an industry source on condition of anonymity. Despite the overdue deal, industry insiders indicate that newly elected President Lee Jae-myung's drive for the nation's defense industry will accelerate negotiations with the Polish government. 'It is too soon to tell the impact of the new President,' the source added. 'However, as we now have the defense control tower (which had been inactive for seven months), our hope is to see bilateral talks between Korea and Poland on bolstering defense ties.' During his presidential campaign, Lee highlighted defense as a key strategic industry for propelling national growth, committing to specific support measures to become a 'top four global defense power' after the US, Russia and France.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
Will new Nexo revive shrinking hydrogen mobility push?
Hyundai set to boost hydrogen-driven eco-friendly transition with new fuel cell SUV, but market interest in hydrogen mobility remains low Hyundai Motor is set to launch the fully revamped Nexo as early as this month in Korea, seven years after introducing its sole fuel-cell-powered sport utility vehicle currently on the market. With improved performance and fuel efficiency over its predecessor, the new Nexo is positioned to lead Hyundai's initiative to drive the global transition to hydrogen mobility — a vision first outlined in 1998 by Chung Mong-koo, honorary chair and father of current Chair Chung Euisun. 'Nexo represents the essence of sustainable mobility proposed by Hyundai Motor,' said Chung Yoo-seok, executive vice president of Hyundai Motor, during the vehicle's unveiling at the Seoul Mobility Show in April. 'We will accelerate the expansion of the global hydrogen ecosystem beyond Korea's borders and aim to achieve our annual sales target of 11,000 units.' However, recent market conditions cast uncertainty over the ambitions of the world's leading hydrogen vehicle maker. Declining demand for fuel cells In recent years, Korea's fuel-cell electric vehicle market has declined. According to SNE Research, sales dropped from 10,336 vehicles in 2022 to 3,688 in 2024, marking a 65 percent decrease. This downturn reflects deeper structural challenges for FCEVs, rather than a temporary pause, as the transition to eco-friendly mobility is increasingly driven by battery electric vehicles, experts said. 'Many consumers are still hesitant even about EVs, which are far more familiar,' said an industry source who requested anonymity. 'So it's no surprise that skepticism runs even deeper when it comes to hydrogen.' Limited charging access and high hydrogen fuel prices also remain major hurdles for fuel cell mobility. Korea has around 221 hydrogen stations — more than Japan, the US or Germany — but drivers still face inconvenience when refueling. 'Due to amplified safety concerns, strict regulations have resulted in limited station hours and the placement of stations far from residential areas, even though such risks can be mitigated through multiple layers of safety measures,' said Lee Ho-geun, professor of automotive engineering at Daeduk University. Amid these ongoing challenges, the launch of the new model is expected to have a limited impact on the market. Hyundai sold around 750 FCEVs domestically in the first quarter of 2025, and projections suggest that total annual sales may remain close to last year's levels despite the new launch. The global market also shows limited reason for optimism, with only Hyundai and Toyota currently active in the passenger hydrogen vehicle segment. Worldwide sales of FCEVs dropped from 20,704 sales in 2022 to 12,866 in 2024. 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However, Kim Pil-su, a car engineering professor at Daelim University, said yearslong efforts are still needed before fuel cell vehicles can become a profitable business. 'The hydrogen mobility sector still faces numerous challenges, including high costs and issues related to hydrogen generation, delivery and storage,' he said, noting that automakers in the US and Europe have abandoned plans to launch fuel-cell passenger cars. 'For hydrogen to be truly eco-friendly (to be widely accepted by countries), it must move beyond heavy reliance on fossil fuels for production. However, mass production through water electrolysis is expected to take over a decade.'
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
Hyundai pushes mobility leadership with FISITA presidency, R&D drive
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