The Korean auto industry is gearing up in Busan this week as the nation’s second biggest city will host the 2016 International Busan Motor Show at BEXCO from June 2 for a 10-day run.

Under the slogan “Inspiring Technology Making Waves in the Future,” the biennial motor festival in Korea will showcase about 230 vehicles from 25 domestic and foreign brands, the motor show’s organizing committee said in a press release last week.


Visitors to the auto show will have a chance to experience 46 new cars, which are varied from performance-driven super cars to electric vehicles.

Among those new cars, four brands -- Hyundai, Genesis, Kia and Man Truck -- will unveil five new cars as world premieres.

“The most highlighted world premiere car will be G80, the second model of Hyundai Motor’s luxury Genesis brand,” a committee spokesperson said.

G80, the revamped version of Hyundai’s Genesis DH sedan, is expected to have a similar look with the EQ900 (G90 in overseas markets), the first model of the new Genesis brand. The car is forecast to be armed with Hyundai’s latest automotive technologies, designed to help autonomous driving on highway, such as a “highway driving assist system.”


The Korean unit of General Motors and Italian super car brand Maserati will unveil their new Camaro sports car and Levante sport utility vehicle, respectively, at the Busan Motor Show for the first time in Asia, according to the organizing committee. 


In addition, there will also be 36 models showcased at the festival, including Kia’s K5 plug-in hybrid, GM Korea’s Volt plug-in hybrid, Renault Samsung’s QM6 SUV, Audi’s A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid, Jaguar’s F-Pace crossover and Cadillac’s new CT6 full-size sedan.


“Reflecting the latest consumer trends, automakers are bringing their SUV and green car models to the motor show,” an organizing committee spokesperson said.

Outside of the venue, a variety of auto-linked cultural events will be held during the period of the motor show, which will see Busan turning into a festival city for car lovers nationwide.

Events include test drives for new vehicles and electric vehicles, an off-road contest and movie night at an outdoor drive-in theater.

In addition, the 2016 Busan Motor Show will also host a gala dinner on June 1 with two speakers from Hyundai Motor and Mercedes-Benz to offer local media a chance to catch up with the latest trends in autonomous driving and to enhance networking in the auto industry.

Hyundai Motor’s vice chairman Kwon Moon-shik, who is responsible for the research and development activities of Hyundai and Kia, and Arwed Niestroj, CEO of Mercedes Benz, who is in charge of R&D in North America, will deliver a keynote speech at gala dinner, the organizing committee said in a press release.

By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@healdcorp.co.kr)