‘Korean R&D center to play key role in Renault Group’s road map’

Renault Samsung Motors, the Korean unit of French automaker Renault Group, said its research and development center, Renault Technology Korea, will play a key role in the group’s vehicle design, safety tests and production technology. Located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Renault Technology Korea was formerly a Samsung Motors research center established in 1997. It was renamed following Renault Group’s acquisition of the Korean carmaker in 2000.  Renault Samsung Motors CEO Dominic Senora speaks

May 19, 2019

Kia launches Korea’s first EV service center

Korea’s second-largest automaker Kia Motors has established a service center dedicated to electric vehicles for the first time in the country, the firm said Sunday. The automaker has set up an EV Workbay at six service centers nationwide, operated by Auto Q. It hopes to enhance the efficiency of EV customers’ vehicle inspection and mechanics’ work convenience. The launch comes in line with the imminent launch of its new EV lineup -- including Niro EV and Soul Booster EV.  Mechanics inspect a veh

May 19, 2019

Hyundai invests W100b in Rimac for electric hypercar development

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motors invested 106 billion won ($89.23 million) in a Croatian manufacturer of high-performance electric cars, a move to target the emerging high-end market for race cars powered by electricity, the company said Tuesday.Under the partnership with Rimac, Hyundai plans to unveil two prototype models for hypercars next year, one powered by electricity and one by hydrogen. The investment aims to position Hyundai as leader in the global

May 14, 2019

‘Renault Samsung strategically important for group in Asia-Pacific region’

With advanced manufacturing and export capacities, Renault Samsung Motors in South Korea stands out as strategically important for the global auto giant, with Renault Group’s head for the AMI and Asia-Pacific region, excluding China, coming to the country for a visit soon, according to the firm Thursday. AMI refers to Africa, the Middle East and India. In a video message, Fabrice Cambolive, chairman of Renault’s AMI-APAC headquarters, described Korea as one of the carmaker’s major manufacturing

May 9, 2019

Experts urge joint efforts for ASEAN EV market formation, growth

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island -- Despite differences in market characteristics and environment, businesses engaged in electric vehicle developments in Southeast Asia can grow together through a concerted effort to build regional partnerships on zero emission cars, experts said Tuesday. At an international conference held on the sidelines of the annual International Electric Vehicle Expo, business representatives, scholars and industry observers highlighted the need for raising voices for more private an

May 8, 2019

EV expo shines light on SMEs, innovators, discusses future of carbon-free tech

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island -- As the first and only exhibition entirely on electric vehicles, the International EV Expo kicked off its four-day run in the southern part of Jeju on Wednesday to offer wider business opportunities for small and medium-sized companies seeking to ride the wave of carbon-free evolution.The sixth edition of the expo has opened its doors to up-and-coming companies and is presenting international conferences looking back on the development of electric vehicles and the market

May 8, 2019

EV expo kicks off in Jeju to promote zero-emission tech

Businesspeople, experts, investors and government representatives from around the world will gather on the South Korean resort island of Jeju to promote carbon-free mobility technology at an international exhibition that kicks off Wednesday. The sixth annual International Electric Vehicle Expo -- the world’s first and largest event dedicated entirely to EVs and EV components, technology and infrastructure -- runs May 8-11 at International Convention Center Jeju, organizers said Monday. Ioniq (Hy

May 6, 2019

Gov't orders recall of 11,500 imported automobiles

South Korea's transport ministry on Sunday issued recall orders for 11,500 units of 58 different imported cars, including those from BMW, Volkswagen and Honda.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said 2,461 units of Germany-based carmaker BMW's 320d and 116i models will be recalled, citing battery problems.  (Yonhap)Around 2,000 units of 22 different BMW models, including the 523i, will also be recalled over heater issues.Another 2,000 units of seven Volkswagen models, including th

May 5, 2019

Renault Samsung halts Busan plant operation for 3 days

Amid ongoing labor disputes, the management of Renault Samsung has decided to suspend operations at its plant in the southeastern port city of Busan for three days starting Monday. It is the first time operations of the Busan plant have been temporarily suspended by the management, not by unionized workers who have staged partial strikes for months.  Renault Samsung's Busan plantThe move is widely viewed as an attempt by the management to realign its strategy before reengaging in labor negotiati

April 29, 2019

[Herald Interview] ‘To me, a car is just one of many designs’

Not all automotive designers are typical “car guys” well versed in the history of cars and models on the street.Because Kim Nury, an automotive interior designer at BMW’s Munich headquarters, definitely does not fit that stereotype. “A car is, to me, just one of many designs. I do not have an extensive knowledge about cars or know A to Z about different models -- I do not drive -- but cars are like what I play with as if I’m in a game finding solutions to producing one,” said Kim during an inter

April 29, 2019

Hyundai Motor records improved Q1 results backed by Palisade

Hyundai Motor said Wednesday its first-quarter operating profit came in at 824.9 billion won ($718 million), up 21.1 percent from last year, boosted by sales of its latest sport utility vehicle model Palisade, which hit the market in December. According to the automaker, first-quarter sales increased 6.9 percent to 23.9 trillion won, while net profit jumped 30.4 percent to 953.8 billion won.  Hyundai Motor’s Palisade (Hyundai Motor)Although Hyundai Motor’s global sales decreased 2.7 percent to 1

April 24, 2019

[Feature] Amid labor dispute, falling sales, Renault Samsung marks gloomy 20th year

For a 42-year-old veteran driver surnamed Yim, the QM6 compact sport utility vehicle he has owned since 2017 is his pride. “QM6, without a doubt, is the strongest car from a trustworthy automaker,” said Yim, showing a photo of a car crash scene where his QM6 looks relatively unscathed while a white sedan that it had collided with it has been smashed to pieces. “The car, no matter what, has to be safe and strong. This was the biggest merit of Samsung Motors, known for high quality products. But m

April 23, 2019

Hyundai Motor develops world’s first mobile EV tune-up technology

Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motors said Monday they have developed the world’s first mobile tune-up technology for their electric vehicles.According to the automakers, the technology allows a driver to control an electric car’s performance, efficiency and driving comfort by setting the car’s torque, acceleration, deceleration, power generation during braking, speed limit, responsiveness and air conditioning, via mobile devices including smartphones and tablet PCs.  A driver tests Hy

April 22, 2019

[Behind the Wheel] King of off-roading, Wrangler, targets urban drivers, but will it work?

One challenge many automakers face with sport utility vehicles is how to maintain their off-road capabilities while still appealing to daily SUV users.Jeep, an SUV brand under the Fiat Chrysler Automobile group, faced this challenge with its iconic Wrangler, which maintains its rough and tough off-roader image. Many drivers still believe the Wrangler suits hard-core off-roading enthusiasts driving on dusty, unpaved surfaces. But to break from its conventional image and expand its customer base,

April 22, 2019

Hyundai Motor hires ex-Nissan CPO to boost sales in Americas

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor has named Jose Munoz, a former Nissan executive, as global chief operating officer in charge of sales in the Americas, the company said Friday. Munoz is to oversee the performance of the carmaker’s regional offices in North America and Latin America, the company said, announcing his appointment as president and CEO of both Hyundai Motor North America and Hyundai Motor America. He will play a leading role in improving the overall profitability of the carmaker

April 19, 2019

Jeep aims to expand target customer base with full all-new Wrangler lineup

There is no doubt that the Wrangler is the most off-road capable vehicle made by Jeep, the iconic 4-by-4 sport utility vehicle maker with a 70-year history under Fiat Chrysler Automobile group. With an aim to expand the customer base of the Wrangler in Korea, Jeep has completed the full all-new Wrangler lineup here, now with six trims that range from the two-door Sports and Rubicon to the four-door Sports, Rubicon, Overland and Rubicon Power Top.  Jeep's All-new Wrangler (FCA Korea)The Italian-A

April 18, 2019

Renault Samsung CEO vows continued investment in Korean market

Renault Samsung Motors CEO Dominique Signora said Wednesday the company will continue investing in the Korean market, considering the Korean unit’s significance to its French parent company.During a closed-door meeting with Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Oh Keo-don, Signora asked for joint efforts to solve a prolonged labor dispute and to revitalize the city’s export competitiveness through the automaker’s only plant in Busan.  Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Oh Keo-don (left) and Renault Samsung M

April 17, 2019

[Behind the Wheel] BMW 3 Series gets sportier, coupled with safety

Since its launch in 1975, BMW’s 3 Series models have been considered a benchmark for compact sport sedans, selling at least 15 million units globally in the past four decades. The seventh-generation model of BMW 3 Series drives on the road. (BMW Korea)The Korea Herald drove the new 3 Series on a rainy day on a 100-kilometer route from Southeastern Seoul to Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province. Despite its slippery road condition, it performed well, proving to be one of the highest-rated in the segment

April 16, 2019

[News Focus] Automakers in dilemma over falling exports, pressure for job protection

Amid a rising tide of trade protectionism, Korean carmakers are facing a dilemma between producing abroad or at home, where labor agreements force them to maintain staffing levels at high wages.Producing a vehicle in South Korea using highly paid workers costs a lot more than in emerging markets with cheaper labor such as in China, Southeast Asian countries and even Eastern Europe. The low profitability of vehicles made in Korea due to high tariffs has been also cited as a hurdle for Korean auto

April 15, 2019

Hyundai invests in CODE42 for mobility solution development

Hyundai Motor has invested in CODE42.ai, a local startup founded by a former chief technology officer for Naver, to strengthen their partnership by developing an open platform for the new mobility-as-a-service market.The carmaker’s de facto chief, Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun, recently met Song Chang-hyun, CEO and founder of CODE42, to strengthen their partnership on a smart mobility solution called the Urban Mobility Operating System, the company said in a statement.  Hyundai Motor Exe

April 15, 2019