Hyundai Motor Forms High-Nickel Cathode Materials Alliance With Umicore

South Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will launch regulatory exemption projects to recover critical minerals from semiconductor process waste, used batteries and end-of-life solar panels. The government plans to test technologies that recover silicon, copper, titanium and tungsten from semiconductor waste such as used silicon and targets, while reviewing regulatory changes to use such byproducts as circular resources rather than waste. Critical mineral recovery from used batteries and end-of-life solar panels will also be included in the demonstrations.

Kia unveiled the PV7 for the first time at IAA Transportation 2026, the world’s largest commercial vehicle exhibition, held in Hanover, Germany, on September 14. The PV7 is Kia’s second dedicated electrified PBV following the PV5 launched last year. It is a large model that combines a flexible body structure that can be adapted for different use cases with electrified performance, in-vehicle software and fleet operation solutions. The PV7 is based on Kia’s dedicated PBV electric platform, E-GMP.S. Based on the platform, Kia secured a wide, flat interior and cargo space while applying 71.5 kWh and 96.2 kWh NCM high-voltage batteries, a high-efficiency electric drive system and an 800 V charging system. The model will be offered in Standard and Long Range versions. The Long Range Cargo Long variant can travel more than 460 km under Europe’s WLTP standard, based on Kia’s own measurements.

SK Innovation said on September 14 that it currently has no additional business restructuring plans following its absorption merger of SK IE Technology (SKIET). The company has been carrying out large-scale business portfolio restructuring, or rebalancing, to improve its financial structure, but said no decisions have been made beyond the SKIET merger. SK Innovation also said it is not considering an initial public offering (IPO) for SK On.