GM Daewoo Unveils Futuristic Cars....

[Libra]

By Bae Keun-min
Staff Reporter
PUPYONG - GM Daewoo Auto & Technology on Monday unveiled for the first time here its first hybrid car and a fuel cell vehicle, in conjunction with the second anniversary of its foundation.




Commerce-Industry-Energy Minister Lee Hee-beom, third from left, GM Daewoo Auto & Technology president Nick Reilly, fourth from left, and other government and company officials pose next to General Motor’s fuel cell vehicle Hy-wire at GM Daewoo’s plant in Pupyong, Monday.
With the showcasing, GM Daewoo introduced its blueprint to begin marketing of environment-friendly futuristic cars here, which will be developed together with GM Group member companies.
GM Daewoo held a ceremony, named ``Tech Tour,’’ to showcase a hybrid version of the S3X sport utility vehicle and General Motor’s fuel cell vehicle Hy-Wire at its plant in Pupyong, with some 100 participants on hand, including Commerce-Industry-Energy Minister Lee Hee-beom and Environment Minister Kwak Kyul-ho.

``Our aim is to reduce emissions, improve efficiency and lesson Korea's dependence on imported oil,’’ GM Daewoo president Nick Reilly said. ``We are working with other GM Group members to devise advanced technology solutions, including hybrid and fuel cell propulsion systems.’’

Yu Ki-joon, vice president of GM Daewoo and engineering head of GM Asia Pacific, said GM Daewoo will be a hub for the integration of GM technology. ``GM Powertrain will make efforts in engine and transmission developments, while GM Daewoo will focus on the integration and application of its technology, especially for the Asia-Pacific region,’’ Yu said.

The S3X, which globally debuted at the Paris Motor Show last month, is the first vehicle entirely developed by GM Daewoo since it joined the GM Group in 2002.

The S3X, equipped with gasoline or a Euro-IV diesel engine, will enter the local market in 2006, while a hybrid version of the vehicle will be introduced in the latter half of 2007. GM Daewoo aims to retail 120,000 S3X units in the first year, including to Europe and China, according to Reilly.

In the ceremony, GM Daewoo also displayed GM’s Hy-wire, a zero-emission vehicle that combines fuel cells with drive-by-wire technology. Drive-by-wire technology uses an electronic system to control essential vehicle functions such as steering, braking and acceleration.

``GM plans to become the first automaker to produce and retail 1 million fuel-cell vehicles profitably,’’ Steve Carlisle, GM Asia Pacific vice president of planning, said. ``The vehicle will be available in the market in 2010.’’

With the introduction of GM Daewoo’s hybrid model, competition in the development of futuristic cars among domestic carmakers is expected to heat up, although South Korean automakers are relative latecomers in the development of these vehicles.

Hyundai Motor earlier this month unveiled its first hybrid Click, which runs on an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, and said it plans to begin commercial marketing of hybrid vehicles across the nation by the end of 2006.

Japan’s Toyota Motor began commercial sales of the world’s first hybrid model in December 1997. Honda Motor is also poised to launch mass-production of a hybrid version of its Accord sedan in December this year as a follow-up to its hybrid Civic model.