2023 Seoul Mobility Show Opens on 31st
Sustainable and Intelligent Mobility Revolution Theme
Kia and KG Unveil New Electric Vehicles for the First Time
The Seoul Mobility Show will be held at KINTEX in Ilsan from the 30th, starting with a pre-press event, until the 9th of next month. The exhibition area has more than doubled compared to the 2021 event, which had shrunk due to COVID-19, reaching 53,541㎡, and the number of participating companies and organizations has increased by more than 60% to about 160.
This is the second event since the name was changed from a motor show focused on automobiles to a mobility show covering the entire mobility industry. Nevertheless, the main attraction remains new cars. They make their debut and receive the spotlight. Various electrified models are presented to the public in line with recent domestic and international trends.
At the Kia EV9 online media conference held on the 28th, (from left) Executive Director Kaoru Kumasagawa, Executive Director Ryu Chang-seung, President Song Ho-sung, Team Leader Marilia Ville, Vice President Karim Habib, and Executive Director Jo Byung-chul are posing for a commemorative photo. [Photo by Kia]
Kia’s second dedicated electric vehicle and flagship sports utility vehicle (SUV), the EV9, makes its first appearance during this event. It had its world premiere debut online the day before. This is the first time the public can see the actual vehicle. Although many electrified models are emerging, mid-to-large electric SUVs are still rare, so there is high interest from the automotive industry and prospective buyers. A notable feature is the enhanced utilization of interior space.
The new model of Hyundai’s mid-size sedan Sonata can also be seen in person for the first time during the event. While emphasizing a sleek feel, the front has been changed to horizontal lamps, giving it a similar impression to recent Hyundai models. The marketing point is a ‘partial facelift close to a complete redesign.’ Due to uncertainty about the development of a successor model, Sonata is likely to be discontinued after the current 8th generation.
KG Mobility (formerly SsangYong Motor) will unveil the electric vehicle Torres EVX for the first time. It is the electrified version of the mid-size SUV Torres, which was launched last year and is being sold domestically and internationally. Along with this, various design concept models of new cars currently under development, such as KR100 (project name), O100, and F100, will also be exhibited.
The imported car industry will also reveal various new models. Mercedes-Benz Korea will showcase a total of 11 models, including one show car unveiled for the first time in Asia and five models unveiled for the first time in Korea. The AMG SL 7th generation model, launching in April, is a completely redesigned new car after 9 years. It is the first SL independently developed by the high-performance brand AMG. The electric SUV EQE and high-performance electric sedan AMG EQE, both scheduled for release this year, will also be unveiled domestically for the first time.
BMW Korea will exhibit 24 models including eco-friendly vehicles. The company’s first hydrogen car, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen, the compact pure electric sports activity vehicle (SAV) iX1, and the i7 will be displayed. The high-performance SUV XM and the BMW Motorrad 100th anniversary model, unveiled on the 28th, will be shown domestically for the first time.
Porsche Korea will be the first Asian country to unveil the concept car Vision 357. It pays homage to the brand’s first sports car, the Porsche 356. The 963 LMDh, which competes in the World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours race, and the racing concept car Mission R will also be introduced domestically for the first time.
Tesla will showcase the sedan electric car models S and X Plaid, which will be launched domestically this year. The humanoid robot ‘Optimus’ model will also be unveiled for the first time since the China International Import Expo (CIIE) last November.
Small and medium-sized enterprises and startups have also set up exhibition booths. Masta, known for its post office delivery vehicles, will display an electric SUV concept car. It is being developed with the goal of launching it in the market within two years. Along with this, the company will showcase a series of know-how related to electric vehicle production, including design, engineering, procurement, sales, and after-sales service as key exhibits.
In addition, to discover excellent technologies, a startup incubating zone has been set up again this time following the previous event. Here, visitors can experience SOS Lab’s LiDAR, WeMeet Mobility’s AI-based vehicle management solution, Tyson’s drone field operation control solution, and Drivetech’s logistics robots.
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