GM Korea Co., the South Korean arm of U.S.-based GM, began testing its electric vehicle the Chevrolet Volt in Korea on the road on Monday. The week-long test drive will be conducted by the U.S. Embassy to Korea, with a specialist engineer from GM Korea. The vehicle will be used by the U.S. Embassy for official functions for one week until April 24. The Volt being tested by the embassy will also...

Large-scale maintenance project in Vietnam involves three SK Energy Korean subcontractors SK Energy, the refining unit under the nation’s largest oil refiner SK Innovation, said Monday that it helped its subcontractors launch an overseas project in Vietnam as part of its efforts for promoting “shared growth.” Three partner firms ― JCon Corp., UBEC Inc and Daechang HRSG Corp. ― will carry out th...

Global carmakers rolling out new SUVs, luxury sedans and concept cars at auto show HONG KONG (AP) ― Global automakers are bringing their flashiest SUVs, luxury sedans and electric concept cars to Auto Shanghai, China’s biggest auto show of the year, as the industry reels from disruptions caused by the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan last month. The show has become one of the industry’s ...

Local conglomerates are boosting their efforts to support subcontractors in line with the government-led “mutual growth” drive. The Lee Myung-bak administration has been keenly advocating shared prosperity between conglomerates and their smaller partners, urging the bigger firms to take the lead to help create a level playing field. With the launch of Commission of Shared Growth for Large and S...

ALICANTE, Spain ― The global trade show IFA to be held from Sept. 2-7 in Berlin is expected to grow 10 percent in size this year, said an executive of the organizing body Messe Berlin on Saturday. Jens Heithecker, IFA executive director at Messe Berlin, said the exhibition space ― 5,000 to 10,000 square meters more than last year’s 134,000 square meters ― has already been completely booked out d...

IMF, World Bank warn on high food prices, joblessness WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Global finance chiefs warned Saturday that rising food prices, unanswered joblessness, Mideast turmoil and weak finances in advanced economies could still derail economic recovery. “We are one shock away from a full-blown crisis,” said World Bank president Robert Zoellick about the surge in basic food prices. “The financi...

Samsung, LG to step up 3-D TV business in Europe, but face skepticism from consumers ALICANTE, Spain ― Smart innovation and green technology are expected to dominate the IFA, one of the world’s top electronics trade shows, to be held in Germany in September, its organizers said. During a preview and news conference for the international press in Alicante from April 14-17, leading industrial fir...

Xperia Arc, the newest model in Sony Ericsson’s smartphone lineup, on Friday hit nationwide SK Telecom stores at a retail price of 803,000 won ($737). Prices will vary depending on the type of call plan customers decide on, Sony Ericsson representatives said. The latest in the Xperia series was priced slightly cheaper than other smartphones released here, such as Samsung’s Galaxy S and Apple’s ...