R&D chiefs of automakers share insight on future cars in Busan

The top research and development executives from Hyundai Motor Group and Mercedes-Benz will share their views and insights on future cars, the current hot topic in the global auto industry, at a gala dinner to be held at the BEXCO in Busan on June 1.

The presentations will be made a day before the 2016 Busan International Motor show to be held from June 2 to 10. The co-organizers include the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association and KOTRA.

“It is the first gala-dinner of the Busan Motor Show, which will offer auto industry professionals and media a chance to share knowledge and network with one another,’’ a BEXCO official said, adding it will nurture the event to market the next biennial auto festival in Busan in 2018.

The invited speakers at the closed dinner meeting include Hyundai Motor Group vice chairman Kwon Moon-sik, who is in charge of R&D activities of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, and Arwed Niestroj, the chief executive of Mercedes-Benz’s R&D unit in the U.S.

Hundreds of participants will get a glimpse of the future car direction that Hyundai Motor Group is pursuing via Kwon’s presentation.

According to the Hyundai R&D chief, Hyundai will be able to realize the automaker’s fully autonomous driving project by 2030.

Another presentation will be made by Niestroj who leads the Mercedes-Benz Research and Development America, located in Sunnyvale, California, which has made commitments to bring technological innovations in the German automaker’s vehicles.

The R&D center of Daimler reportedly consists of six business areas including connected car, user interface and telematics, testing and regulatory affairs, powertrain and eDrive, advanced exterior design, autonomous driving, and advanced user experience design.

In addition to the gala event, BEXCO also underlined the new car launches and various auto events scheduled for the 10-day Busan Motor Show.

According the organizer, five new cars, including Hyundai’s G80, will be unveiled for the first time in the world during the motor show.

By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)