General Motors Korea (hereinafter referred to as Korea GM) announced on the 2nd that it participated as a sponsor in the “2025 College Student Self-Made Car Competition” held at Saemangeum Motor Race Park in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do at the end of August. Through various vehicle exhibitions and on-site programs, they encouraged the passion and challenges of participating students and contributed to fostering future automotive talent.
The College Student Self-Made Car Competition, which has been held annually since 2007, was jointly hosted this year by the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers (KSAE) and the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH). In the Baja category held in August, approximately 1,200 automotive engineering students from 35 teams across 29 universities participated, showcasing the performance and ideas behind the vehicles they made themselves. In September, the Formula category is expected to see participation from about 2,000 individuals across 50 teams from 39 universities, solidifying the competition’s reputation as a platform for nurturing next-generation mobility experts.
In July, Korea GM provided practical learning opportunities by hosting seminars for participating students on topics such as electric vehicle industry safety and understanding of vehicle structure and fasteners. They plan to continue with additional educational sessions in September. At the event venue, they supported the safe progress of the competition by operating the GMC Sierra as a safety car and exhibited a total of nine representative vehicles from major brands such as Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet, and GMC, showcasing GM’s advanced technology and global product competitiveness.
Additionally, for the first time this year, they established the “GM Special Award” to acknowledge creativity and technical achievement, encouraging the students’ spirit of challenge. GM Korea employees interacted with students at the event, sharing experiences and knowledge, while also providing career development opportunities through an HR consulting program.
Cho In-jae, the executive director in charge of body design at GM Technical Center Korea and an organizer of the College Student Self-Made Car Competition, said, “The passion and challenge of students are the greatest forces driving future mobility and the source of turning new technologies and ideas into reality,” adding, “As a global company, GM will continue to lead consistent innovation by supporting their growth based on our accumulated technology and experience.”