Renault Korea in talks to manufacture EVs at Busan plant

Renault Korea Motors, the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Thursday it is in talks with the South Korean government to manufacture electric vehicles at its sole Busan plant amid carmakers' accelerating electrification push. Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon met with Renault Executive Vice President Guido Haak in Paris on Tuesday during his visit to France to help promote Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030. In the meeting, Haak said the French carmaker is planning to invest in the

June 22, 2023

[Herald Interview] Koreans' 'discerning taste’ spurs Mercedes-Benz's growth

Mercedes-Benz Korea sold 80,976 units last year -- the first time an auto importer has sold more than 80,000 in a year here -- while claiming the top spot for the seventh consecutive year among foreign automakers in South Korea. Thomas Klein, who is wrapping up his 2 1/2-year tenure as the CEO of the German carmaker’s Korean office this week, says the auto brand’s success here is linked to Korean customers’ "discerning taste." “I believe South Koreans in general

June 21, 2023

Lexus showcases first battery-powered EV in Korea

Toyota’s premium brand Lexus on Wednesday announced the Korean launch of its first battery-powered electric vehicle, the all-new electric RZ 450e, marking a shift from its hybrid EV-focused business portfolio. “Korea is a key market for understanding the latest trends of (the) automotive market because customers here are trend-savvy and show great interest in cutting-edge technology,” said Lexus International CEO Watanabe Takashi during a press conference in Seoul. “Latel

June 21, 2023

Volvo’s crossover lineup offers 'all-road' adventure package

Ahead of this year’s vacation season, carmakers are increasingly launching crossover vehicles that combine the comfort of sedans with the roominess of SUVs. Swedish carmaker Volvo is no exception. Its crossover lineup, dubbed “Cross Country,” offers an “All-Road Package” suitable not only for outdoor activities like travel and camping, but also for daily driving. According to the carmaker, the lineup consists of the V60 CC and V90 CC, which provide ample cargo space

June 21, 2023

7 firms to recall over 320,000 vehicles over faulty parts

Hyundai Motor Co., Mercedes-Benz Korea Co. and five other companies will voluntarily recall more than 320,000 vehicles to fix faulty components, the transport ministry said Wednesday. The companies, including Kia Corp., GM Korea Co., Volkswagen Group Korea, Ford Sales & Service Korea and FMK, which sells Ferraris and Maseratis in the country, are recalling a combined 326,723 units of 22 different models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. The problems tha

June 21, 2023

[Graphic News] South Korea’s exports of tractors hit fresh record in 2022

South Korea’s exports of agriculture tractors hit a record high in 2022 by advancing 23 percent on-year, data showed, amid growing demand for small-sized models. The value of tractors shipped overseas came to $1.24 billion in 2022, rising from $1 billion tallied a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service. The amount also marked a sharp rise from $657 million posted in 2020, the data showed. The customs office said the increase was driven by rising demand fo

June 21, 2023

Hyundai goes all in for top-tier EV leadership

Hyundai Motor Group said Tuesday it aims to boost its annual sales of electric vehicles in global markets sixfold to 2 million units by 2030 under its revamped electrification strategy. Under its 10-year financial plan worth 109.4 trillion won ($85.1 billion), it plans to inject 35.8 trillion won into electrification. On average, 3.6 trillion won will be invested in EVs and batteries annually, which is higher than last year’s commitment of 2.2 trillion won per year. The operating profit

June 20, 2023

[Photo News] Giving back to society

Mercedes-Benz Korea's corporate social responsibility committee has donated 20 EQB vehicles -- the German automaker's all-electric SUV -- to 20 social welfare organizations across South Korea in cooperation with the Future for Youth Foundation, the company said Tuesday. The committee has donated 64 cars since 2016 to provide comfortable and safe transportation for the underprivileged. This year's charity event marked its single-largest donation to celebrate Mercedes-Benz Korea

June 20, 2023

[Test Drive] Kia presents first 3-row EV9

Hyundai Motor Group’s smaller affiliate Kia is launching a three-row family electric car, the EV9 -- the first of its kind here -- revamping the brand’s push toward sustainable transportation. The EV9 is the second model to adopt Hyundai’s electric car platform E-GMP, following the mid-sized electrified sport utility vehicle EV6, which debuted in 2021. Kia boasted that the latest EV will become a flagship model with the most advanced electrification technology. Creating a new E

June 19, 2023

Over 35,000 EV chargers built in Korea in 5 months: report

More than 35,000 new electric vehicle chargers were built nationwide in the first five months of this year, bringing the total number to over 240,000 units, a report showed Sunday, amid the nation’s fast-growing demand for clean transportation. As of May, 240,695 units of EV chargers were installed nationwide, according to a report from Rep. Park Sang-hyeok of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, citing data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Minis

June 18, 2023

[Photo News] Hyundai Promotes Busan Expo

Hyundai Motor Group’s flagship electric vehicles -- Ioniq 5 and 6, and EV6 -- are parked across the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Sunday to promote Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Ten EVs will offer transport services for the South Korean delegations and travel around the city’s popular tourist attractions during the 172nd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, the intergovernmental body that oversees the event, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

June 18, 2023

Kia to launch all-electric EV9 SUV in S. Korea this week

Kia Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker, said Sunday it will launch its all-electric EV9 flagship SUV in the domestic market this week as part of its electrification efforts. The three-row seater is Kia's second model equipped with Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated electric vehicle platform, called E-GMP, after the EV6 SUV launched in 2021. The two-wheel-drive EV9 comes with a 99.8 kilowatt-hour battery and can travel 501 kilometers on a single charge. An all-wheel-drive mo

June 18, 2023

GM names marketing veteran as new Korea chief

General Motors said Friday it has appointed Hector Villarreal, vice president of vehicle sales, service and marketing at GM Mexico, as its Korean unit’s new president and CEO, effective from Aug. 1. Kicking off his career at GM Mexico in 1990, Villarreal has held various positions within the company across several branches. He has served as president and managing director of GM Operations in Uzbekistan, managing director of GM Russia and president of GM Southeast Asia. In his most recent p

June 16, 2023

Rolls-Royce Spectre makes Asia-Pacific debut in Seoul

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars on Friday showcased its first all-electric vehicle, Spectre, in South Korea for the first time in the Asia-Pacific region. “I must say that Korea has the largest number of preorders for this Rolls-Royce Spectre in the Asia-Pacific region and this is the reason why our Korean customers will be the first to see the Spectre in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Irene Nikkein, regional director of Asia-Pacific at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, in a media unveiling event held

June 16, 2023

Hyundai bets big on future mobility

Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it has invested 1.3 trillion won ($1 billion) in mobility and tech startups, in a move to expand its presence as the first mover in the global future mobility market. “Unlike the traditional automotive industry, mobility innovation nowadays is happening outside of the manufacturing sector in places like Silicon Valley,” said Hwang Yoon-seong, director of the Hyundai and Kia Open Innovation division, during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul. &l

June 15, 2023

[Photo News] Most eco-friendly cars in Canada

Hyundai Motor's all-electric Ioniq 6, pictured, and Ioniq 5 have been named this year's Canadian Green Car of the Year and the Canadian Green Utility Vehicle of the Year, respectively, the South Korean automaker said Thursday. Organized by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, the awards were based on a review and vote from judges comprising local auto experts and journalists. The automaker said the awards recognize the product value of all-electric vehicles developed on Hy

June 15, 2023

Jeju Air to open routes to Oita, Hiroshima

Jeju Air Co. said Thursday it will open routes from Incheon to Oita and Hiroshima to absorb rapidly recovering air travel demand amid a nationwide move to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. South Korea's biggest low-cost carrier will start services on the Incheon-Oita route on June 22 and the Incheon-Hiroshima route on July 13, the company said in a statement. In the January-March period, Jeju Air shifted to a net profit of 48.19 billion won ($36 million) from a net loss of 64.91 billion won

June 15, 2023

Auto exports jump 50% in May on strong eco-friendly car sales

South Korea's car exports soared nearly 50 percent on-year in May driven by vibrant demand for eco-friendly cars, particularly in the US market, the industry ministry said Thursday. The value of outbound shipments of automobiles came to $6.2 billion last month, up 49.4 percent from a year earlier to reach the highest monthly figure for any May, according to the data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The monthly car exports surpassed the $6 billion mark for the first time in M

June 15, 2023

Hyundai Kona Electric nears 300,000 unit sales

Hyundai Motor’s electric compact Kona Electric is set to hit the 300,000 mark in cumulative sales next month, solidifying its position as one of the bestselling electric vehicles manufactured in Korea. As of April, a total of 285,138 Kona Electric cars have been sold since its official debut in 2018, according to the carmaker’s investor relations data released on Monday. Overseas sales accounted for 258,663 units -- nearly seven times the amount of domestic sales. Over 50,000 units w

June 12, 2023

[Photo News] Hyundai wins TCR in Italy

Norbert Michelisz, Hyundai Motor’s Avante N TCR driver, celebrates after winning the 2023 Touring Car Race World Tour held in Italy from June 6-12. Selected as the No. 1 and 4 best drivers for this year’s season, respectively, Michelisz and another team member, Mikel Azcona, drove the Elantra N TCR in the race. The car is a high-performance model of Hyundai’s flagship sedan Avante.

June 12, 2023