The Rise of 'Hybrids': New Car Competition Heats Up as Chinese Automakers Target Korea

[Anchor]

New vehicles equipped with cutting-edge technology are being unveiled today (June 27) at the Busan Mobility Show.

From new models featuring AI assistant functions to modular vehicles that can be reconfigured for different purposes by swapping parts, reporter Park Jaehyeon visited the scene.

[Reporter]

This is the new 8th-generation Avante model, introduced by Hyundai Motor for the first time in six years.

The vehicle has grown in size, with its length increased by 55mm and width by 30mm compared to its predecessor. It also incorporates the company's proprietary AI assistant function, which was first introduced in the Grandeur.

Following the previous generation, a hybrid model has also been released.

[Lee Chan-hee / Senior Manager, Domestic Product Operation Team 2, Hyundai Motor Company: A key feature is that the electric motor has been enhanced, resulting in increased power output compared to the previous model.]

China's BYD has also entered the domestic market by unveiling its new hybrid vehicle for the first time.

Leveraging its expertise as an electric vehicle brand, the company showcased motor-based hybrid technology.

[Jo In-cheol / Head of Passenger Car Division, BYD Korea: Since there are barriers for consumers, plug-in hybrids are playing a role as an intermediate step toward complete electrification.]

Amid concerns over fuel costs due to conflicts in the Middle East, interest remains steady in hybrids, which combine the convenience of refueling internal combustion engine vehicles with the fuel efficiency of electric cars.

[Kim Pil-soo / Professor, Department of Future Automotive Engineering, Daelim University: From a consumer perspective, hybrid cars, which are more eco-friendly, offer excellent fuel efficiency, and feature proven technology, are bound to gain popularity.]

Existing electric vehicles are also finding new paths through innovative ideas.

This is Kia's modular electric vehicle.

By changing certain parts, it can be transformed into various forms, ranging from a mobile store or transport vehicle to a police car.

[Park Jeong-sik / Team Leader, Domestic Product Team 2, Kia Corporation: (The Kia PV5) is a model with versatility. It can accommodate different numbers of passengers and serve various purposes, allowing it to be used for both leisure and business.]

The Busan Mobility Show, where 141 companies from 12 countries are participating to introduce future mobility technologies and new vehicles, will continue until July 5.

(Reported by Kim Hak-mo | Video by Kim Byeong-jik | Graphics by Han Song-yeon | Footage courtesy of Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.