Busan Mobility Show to focus on affordable electric vehicles

Hyundai Motor‘s CASPER Electric

One of South Korea’s major motor shows, the Busan International Mobility Show, is set to return to BEXCO after a two-year hiatus. Amid signs of prolonged sluggish demand for electric vehicles (EVs), participating companies plan to highlight affordable EVs at this year’s exhibition. Notably, the import car brands that showcased luxury EVs at last year’s Seoul Mobility Show will not be participating this time.

According to industry sources on Tuesday, the 12th Busan International Mobility Show, opening on June 28, will feature 59 vehicles from seven domestic and international automakers. Unlike the Seoul Mobility Show held earlier last year, this event is expected to showcase reasonably priced, mass-market EVs.

A key highlight will be Hyundai Motor Company’s debut of the CASPER Electric. This is Hyundai’s first new EV release since the launch of the IONIQ 6 in 2022. With the CASPER Electric, Hyundai is venturing into the compact EV market for the first time, having previously focused on mid-sized and compact EVs priced over 50 million won ($36,000).

Kia will center its booth around the recently launched EV3, an affordable electric vehicle. The Kia booth will feature four EV3 models on display to the public for the first time.

BMW’s smallest sports utility vehicle (SUV) model, the iX2 is also set to premiere at the show. Renault Korea’s AURORA1 (project name), a pure hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), will also make a debut.