정부, 미래차 육성 이유...성공조건은?<br /><br />Along with non-memory chips and bio and health, the Moon Jae-in aministration has pointed to future cars as one of the nation's top three future growth engines. <br />Here's our Kim Hyesung on what this industry is all about and what it can offer to the auto sector. <br />South Korea's top automaker, Hyundai Motor, is betting on hydrogen cars, with plans to increase its production from 25-hundred units this year to more than 10-thousand by next year. <br />The eco-friendly cars combine hydrogen with air in a fuel cell, which produces electricity and water as a byproduct. <br />"Environmental regulation is strengthening due to global warming and fine dust pollution, so the market for non-emission cars like hydrogen electric cars will grow. We have been leading the development of hydrogen fuel cells since 1998 and we are now working on improving cost-efficiency as the platinum used as material for the fuel cells is expensive."<br />Currently hydrogen-powered cars are priced at more than 60-thousand U.S. dollars, half of which is covered by government subsidies. <br />To drive down production costs by increasing the scale of manufacturing , the government announced plans in January to work with the private sector to increase production to six million by 2040, which will include hydrogen taxis and public buses. <br />"To help provide the infrastructure needed to boost the use of hydrogen powered cars, the government has vowed to increase the number of hydrogen fueling stations across the country. "<br />Hydrogen cars are just one example of future cars.<br />The Moon administration is also set to announce a comprehensive plan to nurture driverless cars and smart cars like models with 5G and AI-based infotainment systems. <br />Korea's auto industry is key to the local economy, accounting for about 13 percent of the country's manufacturing production, not to mention employing 350-thousand people.<br />But sales and exports have fallen in recent years.<br />"Amid fiercer global competition and slowing demand, local automakers' competitiveness has weakened. Companies need to find new growth in eco-friendly cars and electric cars, which are now the global trend."<br />The initial stages of boosting the market require a lot of investment and government support like tax-benefits and infrastructure-building play an important role.<br />Efficient use of money, detailed plan and policy consistency will be key to the success of this sector.<br />Kim Hyesung, Arirang News. <br />
