Hyundai Motor kicks off R&D show

Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors kicked off an event Wednesday that will present auto parts producers the opportunity to compare technologies among vehicles made by global carmakers.

The event, dubbed “R&D Motor Show,” will exhibit 25 vehicles from Hyundai-Kia and 85 of their competitors vehicles from home and abroad, Hyundai Motor Group said.

The annual event, which marks its eighth year in 2011, will run through Oct. 8 at a technology institute in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

“Our employees and manpower in charge of the R&D sector from our subcontractors will enjoy a variety of technologies by experiencing the cars at one place,” the group said.

Hyundai-Kia expects about 5,000 individuals from 445 subcontractors to participate in the event.

Exemplifying the group’s willingness to share prosperity by hosting various events for subcontractors, participants will be allowed to disassemble import vehicles on their own during the event.

The group said the show will pave the way for local engineers to benchmark the advanced technologies of import vehicles.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)