Following its “Unlock the Software Age” global forum earlier this evening, Hyundai Motor Group has outlined a detailed roadmap to transform its entire lineup of vehicles (gas and electric) across all brands into Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) by 2025. This new era of vehicle technology will allow HMG to constantly evolve along with its vehicles, which will be able to stay up-to-date via over-the-air updates. To support this new era, the Group has already committed to spending 18 trillion won (~$12.5 billion) to establish a new Global Software Center and accelerate SDV development.
By now you’re likely well aware of Hyundai Motor Group and its three current automotive marques – Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. The IONIQ brand of EVs still currently exists under the Hyundai marque as well as the larger HMG banner.
There’s a lot to unfold here following the group’s recent livestream from South Korea, so we will skip the history lesson for today and hop right into the future. As EVs especially develop toward a new era that’s much more dependent on semiconductors and software than moving parts, a new era of mobility is beginning to emerge.
Hyundai Motor Group states that it recognized this years ago and has been working behind the scenes to ensure its current and future lineup of vehicles across all brands remain not just functional, but technologically relevant. Over-the-air (OTA) updates are already common among most automakers these days, but most of those capabilities are quite limited. For instance, many automakers can only push through simple updates to infotainment systems like the latest maps in navigation.
Only a few current automakers, such as Tesla and NIO for instance, are able to offer software and firmware updates over-the-air, allowing for added performance through an internet connection.
The nucleus of Hyundai’s presentation today was this focus on connectivity and transitioning to Software Defined Vehicles that can not only be remotely upgraded, but exist as part of a cutting-edge world of automotive telecommunication that provides owners with personalized services, safety, and even software subscriptions.
Hyundai can then use that connected car data for future mobility applications, such as Purpose Built Vehicles, Advanced Air Mobility, robotaxis, and even robots.
By 2025, Hyundai Motor Group looks to transform each and every one of its vehicles to fit into this new category of Software Defined Vehicles.
Source: Hyundai Motor Group
HMG expects 20 million Software Defined Vehicles by 2025
According to the release, all new vehicles from Hyundai Motor Group from 2023 onward will be equipped with OTA capabilities. This will include all HMG vehicles, not just EVs. By 2025, Hyundai states that it expects 20 million to be registered to its Connected Car Services (CCS) around the globe.
In addition to being able to upgrade the performance and functionality of a given vehicle anywhere at any time, Hyundai drivers will also be able to take advantage of Feature On-Demand (FoD) services next year as well. This will allow customers to pick and choose certain features or functions on their vehicle to further customize it to meet their specific needs. HMG plans to gather data generated by the 20 million connected vehicles and use it to further develop personalization services.
To roll out this ambitious arsenal of Software Defined Vehicles, Hyundai Group outlines five floors of the “software house” (seen above) that is the foundation of the new era in mobility.
Vehicle Platform
Electrical/Electronics Architecture
Software Platform
Data Platform
Future of Mobililty
Hyundai’s roadmap starts on the ground floor and works its way up. Beginning in 2025, HMG will introduce two new EV platforms – eM and eS – built upon its Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA). eM is currently being developed to support EVs across all segments, and Hyundai says it will deliver 50% more range on a single charge compared to current EVs. It is also being built with Level 3 and higher autonomous driving in mind. So when that technology does become more mainstream, new Hyundai vehicles can already holster it. Same goes for OTA updates.
The eS platform is more of a traditional “skateboard” design exclusively for Purpose Built Vehicles, offering modular, tailor-made solutions to businesses in segments like logistics, rideshare, and last-mile deliveries.
Hyundai shared that its IMA technology will deliver a new level of standardization and modularity to the design and assembly of its EVs. By standardizing components like batteries and motors that currently vary by model, HMG says it can streamline its production processes and expand its lineup.
The same thought process applies to the vehicle controller, which previously required a vehicle’s software system to be upgraded separately for each one. By integrating the controller, future EVs will be more efficient in that the lower-level components can be managed by higher-level controllers, thus reducing the overall number required.
Another huge factor will be the group’s Connected Car Operating Systems (ccOS), which will be applied to all controllers within the vehicle to maximize hardware performance by way of top-tier computing power. Hyundai shared that it is currently collaborating with NVIDIA to load an optimized ccOS onto an NVIDIA DRIVE semiconductor.
Lastly, NVIDIA may or may not end up collaborating on Hyundai’s third-generation integrated controller, but when it does arrive, the company states it will become the basis for expansion into mass-producing Level 3 autonomous EVs and eventually commercializing Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous driving capabilities… “in due course.”
As one would surmise, a future with Software Defined Vehicles includes a lot of data, so a platform that can combine and process it throughout a vehicle’s life cycle will be vital. That’s why it’s the fourth floor of Hyundai Group’s “Software House.” Eunsook Jin, executive vice president and head of the ICT innovation division at HMG, explained:
Hyundai Motor Group’s data platform will not only be simply for driving. It will also play an important role in enhancing the convenience and diversity of the customer’s mobility experience by engaging throughout the vehicle’s entire life cycle. Going forward, we’ll also help create a new mobility ecosystem, connecting cars with other mobility devices, based on data connectivity and scalability.
The achieve all these goals to truly bring an entire lineup of Software Defined Vehicles to life, Hyundai will erect a Global Software Center where much of the $12.5 billion will be spent by 2030. The funds will also go toward other vital sectors like its R&D headquarters. While the Group appears confident in its current role in the automotive industry, it appears to just be getting started. Per the release:
As the Group embarks on a new challenge to transform mobility and meet the needs of customers in the future, it will also continue to develop its award-winning models to meet the needs of customers today. The appeal of the Group’s customer offerings has been consistently affirmed, as demonstrated recently by the range of awards bestowed on EV models from the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands by critics and media across the globe. Already today, the Group’s cutting-edge SDV technologies, such as Infotainment, Connectivity and ADAS are proving highly popular with customers, and as the technology rapidly develops further, a whole new world of possibilities will open up. This will pace the Group at the forefront of providing entirely new mobility solutions as society changes, transportation means evolve, and software-defined vehicles become commonplace.
There’s a lot more to unfold surrounding Hyundai’s future of Software Defined Vehicles, so we recommend checking out the company’s full release.
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BMW Motorrad’s futuristic electric scooter just got its first real refresh since beginning production in 2021. The BMW CE 04, already one of the most capable and stylish electric maxi-scooters on the market, now gets a set of upgraded trim options, new aesthetic touches, and a more robust list of features that aim to make this urban commuter even more appealing to riders looking for serious electric performance on two wheels.
The BMW CE 04 has always stood out for its sci-fi styling and high-performance drivetrain. It’s built on a mid-mounted liquid-cooled motor that puts out 31 kW (42 hp) and 62 Nm of torque. That’s enough to rocket the scooter from 0 to 50 km/h (31 mph) in just 2.6 seconds – quite fast for anything with a step-through frame.
The top speed is electronically limited to 120 km/h (75 mph), making it perfectly capable for city riding and fast enough to hold its own on highway stretches. Range is rated at 130 km (81 miles) on the WMTC cycle, thanks to the 8.9 kWh battery pack tucked low in the frame.
But while the core performance hasn’t changed, BMW’s 2025 update focuses on refining the package and giving riders more options to tailor the scooter to their taste. The new CE 04 is available in three trims: Basic, Avantgarde, and Exclusive.
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The Basic trim keeps things clean and classic with a Lightwhite paint scheme and a clear windshield. It’s subtle, sleek, and very much in line with the CE 04’s clean-lined aesthetic. The Avantgarde model adds a splash of color with a Gravity Blue main body and bright São Paulo Yellow accents, along with a dark windshield and a laser-engraved rim. The top-shelf Exclusive trim is where things get fancy, with a premium Spacesilver metallic paint job, upgraded wind protection, heated grips, a luxury embroidered seat, and its own unique engraved rim treatment.
There are also a few new tech upgrades baked into the options list. Riders can now spec a 6.9 kW quick charger that reduces the 0–80% charge time to just 45 minutes (down from nearly 4 hours with the standard 2.3 kW onboard charger). Tire pressure monitoring, a center stand, and BMW’s “Headlight Pro” adaptive lighting system are also available as add-ons, along with an emergency eCall system and Dynamic Traction Control.
BMW has kept the core riding components in place: a steel-tube chassis, 15-inch wheels, Bosch ABS (with optional ABS Pro), and the impressive 10.25” TFT display with integrated navigation and smartphone connectivity. The under-seat storage still swallows a full-face helmet, and the long, low frame design means the scooter looks like something out of Blade Runner but rides like a luxury commuter.
With these updates, BMW seems to be further cementing the CE 04’s role at the high end of the electric scooter market. It’s not cheap, starting around €12,000 in Europe and around US $12,500 in the US, with prices going up from there depending on configuration. However, the maxi-scooter delivers real motorcycle-grade performance in a package that’s easier to live with for daily riders.
Electrek’s Take
I believe that the CE 04’s biggest strength has always been that it’s not trying to be a toy or a gimmick. It’s a real vehicle. Sure, it’s futuristic and funky looking, but it delivers on its promises. And in a market that’s still surprisingly sparse when it comes to premium electric scooters, BMW has had the lane mostly to itself. That may not last forever, though. LiveWire, Harley-Davidson’s electric spin-off brand, has teased plans for a maxi-scooter-style urban electric vehicle in the coming years, but as of now, it remains something of an undefined future plan.
Meanwhile, BMW is delivering not just a concept bike but a mature, well-equipped, and ready-to-ride electric scooter that keeps improving. For riders who want something faster and more capable than a Class 3 e-bike but aren’t ready to jump to a full-size electric motorcycle, the CE 04 hits a sweet spot. It delivers the performance and capability of a commuter e-motorcycle, yet with the approachability of a scooter. And with these new trims and upgrades, it’s doing it with even more style.
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If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you combine a fruit cart, a cargo bike, and a Piaggio Ape all in one vehicle, now you’ve got your answer. I submit, for your approval, this week’s feature for the Awesomely Weird Alibaba Electric Vehicle of the Week column – and it’s a beautiful doozie.
Feast your eyes on this salad slinging, coleslaw cruising, tuber taxiing produce chariot!
I think this electric vegetable trike might finally scratch the itch long felt by many of my readers. It seems every time I cover an electric trike, even the really cool ones, I always get commenters poo-poo-ing it for having two wheels in the rear instead of two wheels in the front. Well, here you go, folks!
Designed with two front wheels for maximum stability, this trike keeps your cucumbers in check through every corner. Because trust me, you don’t want to hit a pothole and suddenly be juggling peaches like you’re in Cirque du Soleil: Farmers Market Edition.
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To avoid the extra cost of designing a linked steering system for a pair of front wheels, the engineers who brought this salad shuttle to life simply side-stepped that complexity altogether by steering the entire fixed front end. I’ve got articulating electric tractors that steer like this, and so if it works for a several-ton work machine, it should work for a couple hundred pounds of cargo bike.
Featuring a giant cargo bed up front with four cascading fruit baskets set up for roadside sales, this cargo bike is something of a blank slate. Sure, you could monetize grandma’s vegetable garden, or you could fill it with your own ideas and concoctions. Our exceedingly talented graphics wizard sees it as the perfect coffee and pastry e-bike for my new startup, The Handlebarista, and I’m not one to argue. Basically, the sky is the limit with a blank slate bike like this!
Sure, the quality doesn’t quite match something like a fancy Tern cargo bike. The rim brakes aren’t exactly confidence-inspiring, but at least there are three of them. And if they should all give out, or just not quite slow you down enough to avoid that quickly approaching brick wall, then at least you’ve got a couple hundred pounds of tomatoes as a tasty crumple zone.
The electrical system does seem a bit underpowered. With a 36V battery and a 250W motor, I don’t know if one-third of a horsepower is enough to haul a full load to the local farmer’s market. But I guess if the weight is a bit much for the little motor, you could always do some snacking along the way. On the other hand, all the pictures seem to show a non-electric version. So if this cart is presumably mobile on pedal power alone, then that extra motor assist, however small, is going to feel like a very welcome guest.
The $950 price is presumably for the electric version, since that’s what’s in the title of the listing, though I wouldn’t get too excited just yet. I’ve bought a LOT of stuff on Alibaba, including many electric vehicles, and the too-good-to-be-true price is always exactly that. In my experience, you can multiply the Alibaba price by 3-4x to get the actual landed price for things like these. Even so, $3,000-$4,000 wouldn’t be a terrible price, considering a lot of electric trikes stateside already cost that much and don’t even come with a quad-set of vegetable baskets on board!
I should also put my normal caveat in here about not actually buying one of these. Please, please don’t try to buy one of these awesome cargo e-trikes. This is a silly, tongue-in-cheek weekend column where I scour the ever-entertaining underbelly of China’s massive e-commerce site Alibaba in search of fun, quirky, and just plain awesomely weird electric vehicles. While I’ve successfully bought several fun things on the platform, I’ve also gotten scammed more than once, so this is not for the timid or the tight-budgeted among us.
That isn’t to say that some of my more stubborn readers haven’t followed in my footsteps before, ignoring my advice and setting out on their own wild journey. But please don’t be the one who risks it all and gets nothing in return. Don’t say I didn’t warn you; this is the warning.
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The OPEC logo is displayed on a mobile phone screen in front of a computer screen displaying OPEC icons in Ankara, Turkey, on June 25, 2024.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
Eight oil-producing nations of the OPEC+ alliance agreed on Saturday to increase their collective crude production by 548,000 barrels per day, as they continue to unwind a set of voluntary supply cuts.
This subset of the alliance — comprising heavyweight producers Russia and Saudi Arabia, alongside Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates — met digitally earlier in the day. They had been expected to increase their output by a smaller 411,000 barrels per day.
In a statement, the OPEC Secretariat attributed the countries’ decision to raise August daily output by 548,000 barrels to “a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil inventories.”
The eight producers have been implementing two sets of voluntary production cuts outside of the broader OPEC+ coalition’s formal policy.
One, totaling 1.66 million barrels per day, stays in effect until the end of next year.
Under the second strategy, the countries reduced their production by an additional 2.2 million barrels per day until the end of the first quarter.
They initially set out to boost their production by 137,000 barrels per day every month until September 2026, but only sustained that pace in April. The group then tripled the hike to 411,000 barrels per day in each of May, June, and July — and is further accelerating the pace of their increases in August.
Oil prices were briefly boosted in recent weeks by the seasonal summer spike in demand and the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which threatened both Tehran’s supplies and raised concerns over potential disruptions of supplies transported through the key Strait of Hormuz.
At the end of the Friday session, oil futures settled at $68.30 per barrel for the September-expiration Ice Brent contract and at $66.50 per barrel for front month-August Nymex U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude.