Hyundai, Kia develop 1st automatic system for press die design

Korea’s two leading auto brands -- Hyundai Motor Company and Kia -- announced Wednesday that they developed the world’s first automatic press die system for all designs. Press dies are used to form a vehicle’s body parts such as the trunk, hood and fender. Depending on the part’s design, automakers usually conduct the press dying process three to five times to manufacture a part while press die designers line up numerous requirements for the production of each part. Accor

Oct. 16, 2024

[Photo News] Maserati's first electric SUV

Maserati unveiled its first fully electric sport utility vehicle, the Grecale Folgore, in Korea on Wednesday, showcased in nero tempesta black (left) and dark aurora blue. Named after the Italian word for lightning, the Folgore is powered by CATL’s battery that provides up to 500 kilometers of range by Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure standards, with Korean certification still pending. It offers comparable performance to luxury electric SUVs like the Porsche Macan with 82

Oct. 16, 2024

LG wins $9.5b battery deal to power over 1m Ford electric vans

LG Energy Solution has landed its biggest deal of the year, partnering with Ford to supply 109 gigawatt-hours of batteries for the automaker's electric commercial vehicles through 2032. Announced on Tuesday, this long-term agreement will see LG providing enough battery power for over a million electric commercial vehicles, all manufactured at the company’s plant in Wroclaw, Poland. The batteries, expected to be a high-performance ternary pouch type, will be delivered over two periods

Oct. 15, 2024

[Photo News] Kia turns ocean trash into trunk liner

Kia has launched a special edition trunk liner for its EV3, crafted from recycled plastics gathered from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This eco-friendly product, created in partnership with the Dutch nonprofit The Ocean Cleanup, is the first of its kind in the automotive industry. Made from 40 percent marine plastic, the liner features a unique pattern inspired by the nets used to capture plastic debris in turbulent waters. The limited edition accessory will be available in select markets, in

Oct. 15, 2024

Korea urged to enhance readiness for self-driving safety rules

South Korea should join the global movement to set safer international standards for autonomous driving systems, according to a report released by the state-run Korea Automotive Technology Institute on Monday. Cho Min-wook, senior researcher and author of the report, stated that the International Organization for Standardization and the auto industry are looking to adopt a more comprehensive approach that encompasses safety and security for Level 3 and more advanced self-driving systems. ISO is

Oct. 14, 2024

Fescaro chief stresses importance of software-based operation in future mobility

With the age of autonomous vehicles just beyond the horizon, software is becoming just as important as the nuts and bolts of an vehicle. Hong Seok-min, the CEO of Fescaro, which provides software solutions for future mobility, said "software-defined operation" is a key term in the automotive industry today and in the future. "Without a doubt, the keyword (in the mobility industry) is the software-defined vehicle. Designs of existing internal combustion vehicles are centered on t

Oct. 14, 2024

[Photo News] Mercedes for German embassy

Mercedes-Benz Korea said Monday that its all-electric vehicle EQS 450 4 MATIC has been selected as the official diplomatic car for the Embassy of Germany in the country. Ambassador Georg Schmidt underlined the German embassy’s commitment to continuously upgrading its mobility for sustainability in Korea. In this photo, Schmidt (left) and Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vait pose with the newly appointed EV. (Mercedes-Benz Korea)

Oct. 14, 2024

Renault, KG Mobility gain ground in midsize SUV market

Renault Korea and KG Mobility, the two underdogs in Korea where Hyundai and Kia cars dominate almost 90 percent of the market, are starting to edge in with their latest midsize sport utility vehicles. As consumer interest in smaller city cars declines, midsize SUVs are gaining popularity here, driven by increasing demand for larger, family-friendly vehicles and automakers’ focus on more profitable segments. According to September data from the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, K

Oct. 14, 2024

[Photo News] Hyundai helps disabled

Hyundai Motor has donated two vehicles and 315 car seats for children to Hanlove, a welfare center for disabled people in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, to improve disabled children’s right to free mobility. According to the automaker, two Staria minivans -- one that has been redesigned to ease the on-boarding of wheelchairs with a simple mechanism and the other tailored to fit the physicals of children better than the original model -- were delivered to the welfare center on Friday. (Hyundai

Oct. 14, 2024

Chung marks 4 years at helm of Hyundai Motor

Hyundai Motor Group is celebrating four years of Chung Euisun’s leadership as executive chair on Monday. During this period, the automaker has experienced rapid growth, expanded into new markets and positioned itself as a major player in electric vehicles and future technologies. But new challenges lie ahead, particularly in software, robotics and urban air mobility. When Chung officially took over in 2020, Hyundai and its sister brand, Kia, were solid players but not exactly leaders in th

Oct. 13, 2024

Posco Future M's NCA cathode plant in Pohang goes online

Posco Future M has started operations at its new plant in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, dedicated to producing nickel-cobalt-aluminum cathode materials for electric vehicle batteries. The plant, which shipped its first batch over the weekend, will help meet the growing demand for high-performance EV battery components. NCA cathode materials, with 88 percent nickel content, are key for making EV batteries more efficient. In January 2023, Posco Future M secured a 40 trillion won ($29.6 bill

Oct. 13, 2024

Aston Martin seeks bigger footing in Korean luxury car market

INCHEON -- Aston Martin, the ultraluxury British sports car brand known for its affinity with the James Bond franchise, plans to expand its presence in South Korea's booming high-end car market with a more proactive approach to marketing. “This year marks the 111th anniversary of Aston Martin, but we are also celebrating another important milestone -- 10 years since our entry into Korea,” said Marco Mattiacci, chief brand officer and commercial officer of Aston Martin, during a

Oct. 11, 2024

Hyundai India to launch record $3.3 billion IPO on Oct. 22

Hyundai Motor India is about to make history with a massive $3.3 billion initial public offering set for Oct. 22. This will be the largest IPO in Indian stock market history, and Hyundai plans to use the funds to ramp up production in the country and accelerate its push into the electric vehicle market. India’s stock market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, gave the green light for Hyundai’s offering Wednesday. The company will sell 17.5 percent of its Indian sub

Oct. 10, 2024

[Photo News] Marking 100m vehicles

To celebrate producing 100 million vehicles, Hyundai Motor Company is hosting the “One Step Further” exhibition at Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul from Oct. 10 to Nov. 10. Spanning five floors, the exhibit tells Hyundai’s story from its first-ever car, the Cortina Mark 2 (right), to its latest EVs and SUVs. Iconic models, including the Sonata and Elantra, are showcased as milestones of innovation. The exhibition caps off celebrations that began at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant last wee

Oct. 10, 2024

Hyundai, Singapore bolster R&D ties in hydrogen, manufacturing

Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday it will boost its partnership with Singapore, home to the carmaker’s highly automated production base and key research hub, focusing on areas ranging from advanced and sustainable energy to manufacturing solutions. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia’s Nanyang Technological University earlier in the day during the Singapore-Korea Business Forum. The signing ceremony was attended by: Chang Jae-hoon, president and CEO of Hyu

Oct. 9, 2024

[KH explains] Will CATL’s Korean push reshape battery alliance with Hyundai, Kia?

China’s CATL, the world’s largest battery maker for electric vehicles, is reportedly seeking a bigger footing in Korea, the home turf of its archrivals LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On, and a crucial client, Hyundai Motor Group. According to industry sources, the Chinese company is reviewing setting up its Korean unit by upgrading the current office in Seoul that has been operational since 2011. The specific nature of the new operations has not yet been disclosed -- whether

Oct. 9, 2024

LG Energy Solution wins 10-year battery supply deal from Mercedes

LG Energy Solution has secured a major long-term contract to supply electric vehicle batteries to a key affiliate of Mercedes-Benz. The deal, announced Tuesday, primarily targets North America and other key markets, although the exact regions were not specified. Under the terms of the agreement, LG will provide 50.5 gigawatt-hours of EV batteries over 10 years, starting in 2028. While financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, industry analysts believe it likely reaches billions of dollar

Oct. 8, 2024

Hyundai reportedly begins EV production at Georgia plant

Hyundai Motor Group has reportedly begun early-stage production of electric vehicles at its new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America facility, located near Savannah, Georgia. According to a report on Saturday by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a major local newspaper in Georgia, Hyundai commenced production at the facility earlier last week. The company also reportedly held a private event on Thursday for employees to mark this achievement. The official completion ceremony for the plant is st

Oct. 8, 2024

More foreign automakers to share EV battery data with Korea

A growing number of foreign automakers in Korea -- Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Audi among them -- are now cooperating with local authorities to improve EV safety by providing detailed information on their battery management systems in the wake of a serious electric vehicle fire in Incheon this past August. A BMS monitors EV battery safety by tracking key factors like temperature and voltage, preventing malfunctions, and reducing the risk of fires. According to information provided by the Korea

Oct. 6, 2024

Over 60% of automotive exports shipped to N. America in Jan.-Aug.

Over 60 percent of South Korea's automotive exports during most of 2024 have been shipped to North America, according to industry data, raising concerns about the need for more balanced global export strategies. The combined exports of the five South Korean automotive firms — Hyundai Motor, Kia, GM Korea, KG Mobility, and Renault Korea Motors — totaled 1,857,111 units during the January-August period. Of those, 61.4 percent, or 1,140,073 units, were shipped to North America, mar

Oct. 6, 2024