April 26, 2024

• 

[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Motor, the nation’s largest carmaker, on Aug. 27 said it has developed a technology that can enhance the safety of babies left unattended in the backseat.

The Korean carmaker plans to gradually incorporate the “rear-seat passenger alert system” to its vehicles starting next year. It said the same features will be applied to cars made by its sister company Kia Motors.

“The technology is aimed at protecting babies in case their parents leave them in the back seat and are absent for some time to do shopping and take care of other business,” a company spokesman said. 

If the parents do not return after a set period of time after they leave the car, the system sends out the alert to the driver through his or her mobile phone, he explained.

Hyundai Motor also plans to introduce a ball-type belt clip in the backseat safety belt to help fasten the baby’s car seat more tightly and safely, the company said.

The company didn’t provide further details on the technologies as they have yet to be fully developed.

By Ahn Sung-mi and newswires (sahn@heraldcorp.com)