Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automotive conglomerate, said Monday that it has developed a mobile diagnostics system that can quickly determine problems in a car using an ordinary tablet PC.

   The new Global Diagnostic System (GDS) is a world first and represents a jump in technology compared to the tools used by Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. since 2006, the conglomerate claimed. The two carmakers are flagships of the conglomerate and the top two manufacturers of automobiles in the country.

   "The new GDS will be used by Hyundai and Kia service stations in South Korea from September of this year," a corporate press release said.

   It said existing diagnostic systems are very large and have to be connected via cables to work. This has made it hard for engineers and maintenance crews to move such systems around the workplace.

   In contrast, the new system can check on cars using a vehicle communication interface that links a small communications module in the car to a tablet PC through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The connection is possible in part because so many modern cars now have computers and electronic systems onboard.

   The automaker said the latest system can reduce the time it takes to find out what is wrong with a vehicle and can give real-time updates on the state of the car.

   "Overall, the new GDS is expected to greatly enhance the competitiveness of Hyundai and Kia service centers," the group said. (Yonhap News)