Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun Meets with Czech Prime Minister... Requests Support for Busan World Expo

Explanation of Korea and Busan's Competitiveness as the Theme and Candidate Site for the Busan World Expo
Discussion on Cooperation Plans for Expanding Electric Vehicle Adoption and Building EV Charging Infrastructure in Czech Republic

On the 27th (local time) at the Prime Minister's Office in Prague, Czech Republic, Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group (left), met with Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, to discuss mutual cooperation plans including support for hosting the Busan World Expo and the electrification transition of Hyundai Motor's Czech plant, followed by a commemorative photo. Photo by Hyundai Motor Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, met with Petr Fiala, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, to request support for the bid to host the 2030 Busan World Expo. They also discussed mutual cooperation plans, including the electrification transition of the Czech factory.

According to Hyundai Motor Group on the 28th, Chairman Chung met with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on the 27th (local time) and explained the theme, goals, and competitiveness of Busan Expo as a host city, asking for interest and support. The Czech Republic is serving as the European Union (EU) presidency in the second half of this year. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1990, Korea and the Czech Republic have continuously strengthened their exchanges and cooperation for 32 years, establishing a ‘strategic partnership’ in 2015.

The Busan Expo set its theme as ‘The Great Transformation of the World, Voyage Toward a Better Future’ based on the recognition that fundamental transformation is necessary to solve crises humanity faces such as climate change and inequality.

Chairman Chung emphasized Korea’s capabilities by stating, “Through the nature-friendly lifestyle and technological innovation pursued by the Busan Expo, we can prepare for a sustainable future and solve global issues.” He added, “Korea is a country with technological leadership and capabilities to provide solutions to the crises humanity faces,” highlighting Korea’s leadership in 4th Industrial Revolution technologies such as eco-friendly mobility, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart cities.

He also highlighted Busan’s competitiveness, which has experience hosting major international events such as the Asian Games and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. He explained, “Busan is an optimal city for the World Expo as it serves as a transportation and logistics hub connecting Eurasia and the Pacific, and has established itself as a cultural content hub with K-Culture and world-class tourism infrastructure.”

Additionally, Chairman Chung and Prime Minister Fiala exchanged broad opinions on mutual cooperation plans to sustain growth in the Czech automotive industry and Hyundai Motor’s Czech factory, focusing on the explosive growth of the European electric vehicle market. Currently, over 50 Korean companies, including Hyundai Motor, have entered the Czech market. Recently, both countries have been seeking to expand cooperation in future industries such as electric vehicles and clean energy.

The Hyundai Motor Czech factory is gaining importance as a key base leading Hyundai’s eco-friendly vehicle production in Europe, where the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles will be banned starting in 2035. Chairman Chung explained the mid- to long-term electrification transition plan and major issues of the Czech factory, requesting continuous interest and support from the Czech government to smoothly expand electric vehicle production.

Chairman Chung also discussed cooperation plans to expand electric vehicle adoption and build electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the Czech Republic, based on Hyundai Motor Group’s high-quality electric vehicle supply and experience in establishing charging infrastructure domestically and internationally.

The Hyundai Motor Czech factory has officially begun its transition to a forward base for electric vehicle production in the European region. Wholesale sales of electrified models produced at the Czech factory, such as the Kona Electric, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, reached 87,045 units by September this year, a 38.1% increase compared to the same period last year.

The Czech factory is expected to play a key role in achieving Hyundai Motor Group’s mid- to long-term electric vehicle sales targets in the European market by 2030 and contribute to achieving 100% electrification transition in Europe by 2035.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.