Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Amazon Stock Rebounds After Earnings as $200B Capex Plan Sparks AI Spending Debate 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Australia’s Corporate Regulator Urges Pension Funds to Boost Technology Investment as Industry Grows 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Anthropic Eyes $350 Billion Valuation as AI Funding and Share Sale Accelerate 
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
Australian Scandium Project Backed by Richard Friedland Poised to Support U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpile 
Sony Q3 Profit Jumps on Gaming and Image Sensors, Full-Year Outlook Raised 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Kia Motors boosts its design edge with former BMW designer John Buckingham. As their new Design Exterior Director, Buckingham will fortify Kia's progressive design philosophy and next-gen vehicle exteriors.
Kia Motors is currently the second-largest automobile manufacturer in its home base, and it announced the hiring of Buckingham as its design exterior director on Monday, June 5. With his addition to the company, Kia expects to boost its design capabilities.
The announcement was a bit delayed because Buckingham already started to work as the head of Kia Next Design Exterior Group on June 1. Prior to his move, he held the same post in luxury car companies, including BMW, Faraday Future, and Bentley Motors.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the new director of design exterior at Kia Motors will directly report to the vice president and head of Kia Global Design Group, Kim Teck Koun. Buckingham joined the BMW Group in 2005 and moved to Bentley Motors in 2018. In 2022, he joined Faraday Future, and this is apparently his shortest stint, as he is joining Kia Motors this month.
Buckingham is a graduate of Coventry University with a degree in automotive design. He was credited with creating the new 8 Series concept at the BMW Designworks studio based in Los Angeles.
"I look forward to working with the hugely talented design team to help further define the brand's Opposites United progressive design philosophy and apply this approach to the next generation of Kia vehicle exteriors," Buckingham said in a statement. "Together, we will build on the hugely impressive current products and work towards the next generation of design expression."
"I will collaborate with exceptional colleagues to effectively incorporate the design philosophy of 'Opposite United' a creative fusion of contrasting concepts into Kia's exterior design," The Korea Economic Daily further quoted the new Kia Motor’s exterior design head. "I will strive to secure a new dimension of design capabilities."
Photo by: Nils Bogdanobs/Unsplash
