Seoul, July 2
Hyundai Motor and Kia said on Wednesday that they have launched an open research hub in southern Seoul to allow the participation by the public in designing user experience (UX) for future mobility.
The new facility, named UX Studio Seoul, replaces the previous UX Studio that opened in 2021 and offers enhanced accessibility to better communicate the brands' core values in UX design, reports Yonhap news agency.
The former facility functioned primarily as an in-house collaboration platform for researchers involved in product planning, design and engineering. In contrast, UX Studio Seoul is structured as a more open and interactive environment.
The new facility consists of two main areas: the first-floor Open Lab, where visitors can explore UX exhibition content and participate in research activities, and the second-floor Advanced Research Lab, an immersive space for in-depth UX development.
Visitors will have the opportunity to freely explore various future mobility concepts, engage in early-stage UX research, and experience firsthand how user feedback is reflected in the vehicle development process, the companies said.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor said its sales gained 1.5 percent in June from a year earlier thanks to increased demand both at home and abroad.
Hyundai sold 358,891 vehicles last month, up from 353,566 units a year earlier, the company said in a press release.
Domestic sales rose 3.8 percent from 59,804 to 62,064 units, while overseas sales gained 1 percent to 358,891 from 353,566.
"Sales increased both domestically and overseas due to the expanded sales of various models," a company official said, adding, "We will continue to maintain sales momentum by launching competitive new vehicles in the future."
From January to June, cumulative sales edged up 0.1 percent to 2,066,425 vehicles from 2,063,844 in the same period last year.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting concept but I wonder how much this will actually translate to better cars for Indian roads. Hyundai's after-sales service in India needs more attention than UX labs abroad! Their service centers in tier-2 cities are quite poor.
Hyundai is doing well globally but in India, their electric vehicle strategy is still unclear. When will we see proper EV infrastructure and models? The UX research should focus on Indian charging solutions!
As a UX designer myself, this is exciting news! The Indian market has unique needs - hope Hyundai incorporates features like better AC performance for our summers and more durable interiors for joint family usage. 🤞
Hyundai cars are good but overpriced in India compared to other markets. Instead of fancy UX labs, they should work on making their cars more affordable for middle-class families. Verna's price has crossed 20 lakhs!
The sales numbers show Hyundai's strong position, but competition is heating up with Tata and Mahindra's new launches. They need to bring their global innovations to India faster. Waiting for that IONIQ 5! âš¡
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