Korean Air to reopen dozens of int'l routes in June

Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier by sales, said Thursday it will reopen dozens of its international routes next month amid signs the coronavirus epidemic may have passed its peak. Korean Air plans to resume flights on 19 international routes on June 1 as the country's top flag carrier strives to offset a sharp decline in passenger travel demand with an increased demand for cargo deliveries, the company said in a statement. The reopening routes include Washington, DC, Seattl

May 7, 2020

Hyundai Mobis develops engine sound system for EVs

Hyundai Mobis, an auto parts making unit of Hyundai Motor Group, said Wednesday that it has developed the world’s first virtual engine sound system called Acoustic Vehicle Alert Sound with a vehicle’s grille cover.  The system was created by making use of the grille cover of the electric car, which has a completely blocked front grille unlike a combustion engine car that has an open-type grille in the front, as part of the speaker.  The sound system makes a beeping sound

May 6, 2020

Hyundai’s all-new Palisade debuts with highest-level trim

Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday that it has launched the latest version of its sport utility vehicle Palisade incorporating the highest-level trim, following consumer demand. The automaker has added the highest grade trim of 2020 Palisade called Calligraphy, a concept which was first introduced to the new Grandeur launched last year.  The all-new Palisade has applied a special radiator and intake grille, wheel designs, a skid plate and a body color cladding, the company said.  T

May 6, 2020

Tada operator files constitutional petition against revised passenger transport law

The operator of the ride-hailing service Tada has filed a constitutional appeal against a revised passenger transport service act, company officials said Tuesday, accusing the amendment of infringing on the freedom of corporate activities and other basic rights. The Value Creators & Company (VCNC) submitted the petition to the Constitutional Court on Friday, about two months after the National Assembly passed the revision that effectively bans the ride-hailing service. The act allows the

May 5, 2020

South Korea seeks ICAO status upgrade

South Korea plans to create an organization dedicated to the International Civil Aviation Organization, aiming to upgrade its status and raise global competitiveness, officials said Tuesday. The Transport Ministry said it will create a team named, ICAO and Global Partnerships, responsible for policies related to international civil aviation. ICAO is a UN specialized agency, established by States in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Avia

May 5, 2020

Airlines to record worst earnings slump amid pandemic

South Korea’s airline industry is likely to record its worst performance in the first quarter with the dismal situation continuing in the near future. The nation’s largest airline Korean Air, which will announce its first-quarter earnings next week, is expected to post an operating loss of around 240 billion won ($195 million), the first red in 18 quarters since 2015, according to industry watchers. Passenger traffic is expected to shrink around 30 percent on-year. Asiana Airlin

May 5, 2020

GM Korea’s SUV Chevrolet Trax tops small SUV sales in US

GM Korea said Monday that its small sport utility vehicle Trax ranked No. 1 in the United States in the category for small SUVs in the first quarter. According to the automaker, an accumulated 28,242 units of Chevrolet Trax have been sold in the US from January to March, topping the list among 15 kinds of small SUVs sold there. Following Trax were Honda HR-V and Hyundai Motor’s Kona at 19,414 units and 15,174 units, respectively.  All Trax models are manufactured at the automaker&

May 4, 2020

Hyundai, Kia to resume US factory operations this week

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. said Monday their US plants will resume operations this week after taking thorough quarantine measures to guard against the new coronavirus. Hyundai and Kia plan to restart production at their plants in Alabama and Georgia, respectively, on Monday (US time) and flexibly operate the plants "depending on the COVID-19 developments and local market conditions," a company spokesman said over the phone. Hyundai has suspended the Alabama

May 4, 2020

Korean Air to submit self-rescue plan this month

Korean Air Lines Co., the country's top flag carrier, will draw up a 1.5 trillion won ($1.23 billion) self-rescue plan, including a 1 trillion won stock offering, this month in return for massive financial support from two state lenders, industry sources said Sunday. Last month, the Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Exim Bank) said they will inject 1.2 trillion won into the country's top airline to help the company weather the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. T

May 3, 2020

Mercedes-Benz appoints new chief for Korea operations

Mercedes-Benz Korea Ltd. said Friday that Bjorn Hauber in charge of the German carmaker's Sweden and Denmark operations will replace the country's current chief in August. Mercedes-Benz Korea President and Chief Executive Dimitris Psillakis will complete his five-year tenure and begin his new position as head of sales and product management at Mercedes-Benz USA on Sept. 1, the company said in a statement. Hauber has contributed to the strategy development and sales increase of Mercedes-Benz

May 1, 2020

HDC’s Asiana Airlines takeover postponed

Midsized construction company HDC Hyundai Development Company said Wednesday that it has postponed the schedule to complete the acquisition of Asiana Airlines, as more time is needed for the conditions precedent to be met, including a delayed foreign regulator’s approval. HDC said in a regulatory filing that the acquisition date has been resettled from April 30 to “a date agreed by both parties.”  A HDC official told The Korea Herald that the deal closing date can be af

April 29, 2020

[News Focus] Hyundai Motor banks on domestic market to minimize COVID-19 fallout

Hit by the unprecedented economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic, the country’s largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Group, is moving to focus on increasing domestic sales to recover from weakened exports. The strategy, also taken by other smaller automakers, is expected to further intensify the local market, according to industry sources. According to Hyundai Motor Group, it would reorganize the production schedule and supply of popular models.  Hyundai Motor Group Executive Dire

April 29, 2020

[Monitor] Global automakers’ sales, profits decline

Sales and profits of global automakers declined over the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, market data showed Tuesday. With European countries like France having gone into lockdown in the first quarter, French automaker Renault Group recorded 19.2 percent fall in their sales from January to February, compared to the previous year. German automaker BMW also saw its sales dwindle by 20.6 percent, while other German carmakers Daimler Group and Volkswagen saw their operating profits plumme

April 29, 2020

Renault Samsung to suspend plant for 11 days on virus impact

Renault Samsung Motors, the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Monday it will suspend its sole plant for 11 days, as the coronavirus outbreak has affected production and sales. Renault Samsung will halt operations at its plant in Busan, 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, from Thursday through May 8 "to give an extended holiday to its employees in the family month," a company spokesman said. The carmaker stopped the Busan plant for four days in February due to lack of parts fro

April 27, 2020

Mercedes-Benz Korea ups donation upon pandemic

In line with its expansion of social responsibility programs, Mercedes-Benz Korea said Monday it is saving a percentage of revenue from car sales from March to May with a goal of donating over 1 billion won ($811,000) to charitable causes. Mercedes-Benz Korea has been embarking on social activities to contribute to less privileged Koreans and to contribute to the country’s fight against the impact of the novel coronavirus, the automaker said. The local importer and distributor of the G

April 27, 2020

Infant LCCs left out from state support fear business collapse

The South Korean government has been spewing out financial support schemes for the struggling airline industry upon the novel coronavirus pandemic since February. But the measures exclude minor and infant-stage low-cost carriers that had acquired their operation licenses only last year, stoking concerns over their business outlook. It also rekindled criticisms that the Transport Ministry had hastily handed out licenses for the already-crowded LCC sector. Most recently last week, the governmen

April 27, 2020

Cargo trucks in Korea going green

The government is increasing efforts to make the logistics industry here greener. The Ministry of Environment said Friday it will be providing subsidies for 8,200 electric cargo trucks to reduce fine dust and carbon emissions. It has signed a memorandum of understanding with two automakers and five logistics firms -- Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors as well as CJ Logistics, Hanjin, Lotte Global Logistics, DHL Korea and Hyundai Glovis -- to put more environment-friendly electric cargo trucks on t

April 26, 2020

Jaguar’s XF upgrades product portfolio with 2020 edition

British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover’s premium sedan XF has come back with a 2020 checkered flag edition, upgrading the brand’s product portfolio. Jaguar’s 2020 XF checkered flag edition features the automaker’s unique exterior and interior elements, as well as the Ingenium engine which comes in both diesel and gasoline variants, the company said Sunday. The engine, which was manufactured with a high-tech aluminum-based material, delivers high fuel efficiency and up to 18

April 26, 2020

[Herald Interview] Driving luxury race car with everyday usability

South Korea has rapidly become an attractive market for luxury sports car brands in recent years. Driving the trend is Porsche, with market watchers attributing the German carmaker as having opened the gateway for car enthusiasts here with its diverse models that coalesced its high-end image into individuality. “We are still a young brand (here). Porsche Korea began business here only seven years ago, we are still fairly new and there’s a lot about the brand that we can show and t

April 26, 2020

[News Focus] Will militant labor union of Hyundai Motor change upon pandemic?

Change seems to be looming for Hyundai Motor’s labor union -- known for hard-line protests and strikes -- with their new pragmatic leader and as the global pandemic persists. Hyundai Motor’s wage negotiations, which are normally launched in late April or May at the latest, are expected to be delayed until July this year. “We are considering a plan to finalize the requests in mid-June and hold a meeting with the management in July. We have to watch the global pandemic trend

April 26, 2020