The LA Auto Show, marking its 117th edition this year, opened on the 21st (local time) at the Los Angeles (LA) Convention Center, showcasing to global media. Leading carmakers from Korea, such as Hyundai and Kia, alongside American giants like General Motors (GM), Ford, and Tesla, as well as Japan’s Toyota and Nissan, and Europe’s Volkswagen, all participated with various vehicles on display.
As the LA Auto Show became a stage for global automakers to unveil their electric vehicle strategies, it has successfully drawn attention, with this year’s spotlight also on electric vehicles. Despite predictions that the second term of the Trump administration might slow electric vehicle development, automakers from Korea, the United States, and Japan revealed new electric and concept cars, showcasing their commitment to electrification.
American automaker General Motors (GM) exhibited five electric vehicles, including the 2025 Chevrolet mid-size SUV Blazer EV and the large truck Silverado EV, making it the brand with the most electric vehicles on display among American brands. Chrysler also unveiled its electric concept car, Halcyon, designed with autonomous driving features in mind. Ford displayed its high-performance electric car, the Mustang Mach-E.
Tesla, the leading electric vehicle company in the United States, set up exhibition space without a separate stage, similar to the Paris Motor Show in May. Vehicles on display included the Model 3 and Cybertruck, with crowds continuously gathering around the Cybertruck. Tesla CEO Elon Musk presented the two-seater RoboTaxi CyberCab, mentioning it could launch before 2027.
Korean automakers also unveiled new vehicles in large numbers. Hyundai introduced its first large electric SUV, the Ioniq 9, featuring spacious interiors and a maximum range of 532 km on a full charge. Many foreign journalists flocked to Hyundai’s exhibition space to capture images of the Ioniq 9, which is set to be available in the North American market starting in the second quarter of next year.
Kia revealed the high-performance model EV9 GT, an enhancement over the existing large electric SUV EV9, focusing significantly on improved driving performance. It is scheduled to launch in Korea in the first half of next year and will be available in North America and other markets from the second half. The improved version of their first dedicated electric vehicle, “The New EV6,” was also showcased for the North American market.
Japanese automakers were also eager to showcase their electric vehicles. Toyota, the world’s leading automaker, displayed the mid-size electric SUV bZ4X, which is yet to be released in its home market. In the U.S., it is currently being sold for approximately 56 million KRW. It was the only electric vehicle at the Toyota booth. Nissan showcased the mid-size electric SUV Ariya and conducted test drives at a course set up beside their exhibition space.
Honda’s premium brand Acura unveiled a premium EV concept car. This vehicle, expected to be launched at the end of next year, will be produced at the American Honda EV plant based on Honda’s new EV platform.