Seoul Mobility Show Returns in Full Force After Pandemic

Korea's biggest car showcase opens on Friday at KINTEX in Ilsan north of Seoul and runs until April 9.

The Seoul Mobility Show, which is held in alternate years with the Busan International Motor Show, is double the size compared to locked-down 2021 and features 160 domestic and foreign automakers, dealers, parts suppliers and others. New technologies from urban air mobility and robotics companies will also be featured.

Hyundai will unveil a facelifted version of the Sonata midsize sedan dubbed the Edge, which is likely to be the last version of the stalwart as no further upgrades are planned. Visitors will also get a chance to see working models of the new Kona electric SUV and an auto-charging robot.

Affiliate Kia will unveil the EV9 large electric SUV, ahead of its release sometime this year, while luxury brand Genesis will exhibit concept cars in its X series.

KG Mobility, formerly Ssangyong, returns to the show for the first time in four years with electric versions of the Torres SUV as well as other SUVs that can be turned into camping cars.

Renault Korea has set up an outdoor space where visitors can test the QM Quest, a midsize SUV modified into a two-seater.

Mercedes-Benz will exhibit the EQE electric SUV, AMG EQE sedan and SL Roadster convertible, while BMW will feature its first hydrogen vehicle, the iX5 and the iX1 small electric SUV.

Tesla, which has expanded its market share here despite complaints over customer service and safety, will appear at the show for the first time with the Model X and its even faster Plaid, as well as a prototype of the Tesla Bot humanoid robot.