This file photo from July 15, 2022, shows the opening of the Busan International Motor Show 2022 held at the BEXCO exhibition center in the southeastern city of Busan. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — The 2024 Busan International Mobility Show (BIMOS) will bring eco-friendly vehicles to the forefront this month, according to organizers and industry sources Thursday, as the biennial trade show struggles to maintain its influence moving forward.
BIMOS is scheduled to open June 28 for a 10-day run at the BEXCO exhibition center in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, during which six domestic and international car brands will showcase their latest flagship models.
According to BEXCO and industry officials, more than 90 percent of the around 60 vehicles expected to be on display will be eco-friendly models.
Hyundai Motor is expected to present its latest lineup of electric vehicles, including the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Kona EV and ST1. The company also plans to unveil the electric version of its mini SUV Casper.
This image, provided by Hyundai Motor, shows a teaser for its Casper Electric mini SUV expected to be unveiled at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Hyundai’s independent luxury brand Genesis will reportedly put on display the GV70, GV80 Coupe and G90 Black models.
Kia plans to showcase its revamped EV3, which the company began taking orders this month, as well as the latest iterations of the company’s EV6 and EV9 models.
Renault Korea, the South Korean unit of French automaker group Renault Group, will unveil the result of the company’s new hybrid car development initiative, referred to as the Aurora project.
BMW and affiliate brand MINI will showcase 18 models, including vehicles that will make their debut in South Korea.
More smaller domestic car companies, such as Oullim Motors, as well as secondary battery companies and auto parts manufacturers, will also participate.
This year’s show will be the first one held since the name was changed from the Busan International Motor Show. BIMOS is held every two years, with the Seoul International Mobility Show held in the intervening years.
This image provided by BMW Korea shows the company’s new M4 model expected to be showcased at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Despite efforts to overhaul itself, BIMOS, unfortunately, has been on the wane in terms of its scale and influence, similar to how global auto shows have experienced cancellations or scale-downs since the pandemic — as seen in the closing of the more-than-century-old Geneva International Motor Show announced last month.
This year, only six car brands will participate. This is in stark contrast to the 2018 show, when 19 brands introduced by 11 automakers participated. Global companies, such as Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, as well as ones based in South Korea, such as KG Mobility and GM Korea, have decided to skip the event.
This year, organizers also decided not to hold a preview news conference in Seoul for media outlets based in the capital area, despite having largely done so in the past.
Industry watchers stress the need for the BIMOS committee to widen the scope of the trade show by inviting more companies from different sectors, such as chipmakers, urban air mobility firms and robotics companies.
Mobile carrier SK Telecom, for instance, participated in the 2022 event to showcase high-speed network technology powering urban air mobility communications. It, however, decided not to participate this year.
An auto industry insider said BIMOS “needs to better overhaul its vision and identity to better lure more carmakers to participate, especially as more companies opt to hold separate promotional events.”
(Yonhap)
