Kia unveiled a range of highly customizable PBV models and related eco-system during 2024 at various key shows; CES in Las Vegas, Busan Mobility Show in South Korea and at IAA in Hannover, Germany.

Both companies are heavily invested in hydrogen as a clean fuel transportation solution.

South Korea’s commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw continued to decline in the second quarter of 2024, by over 12% to 53,662 units from 61,318 units in the same period of last year.

Sales for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in East Asia’s seven main markets, excluding China, continued to decline in the second quarter of 2024.

The e-buses will operate on the island of Yakushima, a Unesco World Heritage site.

The manufacturer says it is looking to take on fast-rising competition from Chinese and European manufacturers in the emerging global market for zero-emission commercial vehicles, including hydrogen-powered trucks and buses.

The e-SMaRT AU56 City product is now in series production. The first tyres to roll off the production line will be 275/70 R22.5 tyres, designed for the urban electric bus market.

Production may be possibly at its site car factory in Nošovice, Czech Republic, although not plant has been mentioned at present.

This is Tata Daewoo's first mass-production export order for its Maxen truck, which was launched in 2022.

The market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in South Korea plunged by almost 27% year-on-year to 47,993 units in the first quarter of 2024 compared with strong year-earlier volumes.

Hyundai has announced it is expanding its hydrogen truck business in the US through a partnership with California-based non-profit organisation Centre for Transportation and the Environment (CTE).

The market for commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in East Asia’s seven main markets, excluding China, continued to deteriorate in the first quarter of 2024 - with sales falling sharply by more than 28% year-on-year to 268,053 units.