Korea sets FCEV target at 80,000 units by 2022

South Korea will increase the number of hydrogen-powered vehicles on the roads by 80,000 units in the next four years, the finance minister said Wednesday.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki said at a ministerial meeting on innovation-led growth in Seoul that the new fuel-cell electric vehicle target is part of a broad strategy aimed at building an ecosystem for hydrogen industries. It would include producers of the fuel as well as technologies that store and t

Jan. 16, 2019

[Herald Interview] Audi Volkswagen steps up to support Korea’s Industry 4.0 drive

Determined to restore customer trust and committed to doing so by contributing to society, the head of the Korean arm of Audi Volkswagen said the automaker is on board with the South Korean government’s drive to promote future technologies and is planning to foster young professionals in the area of future mobility.In an interview with The Korea Herald, Rene Koneberg, a group managing director with Audi Volkswagen Korea, said the company would start providing educational and cultural opportuniti

Jan. 15, 2019

Kona, Genesis G70 win top auto awards in US

Hyundai Motor became the first South Korean automaker to have two vehicles win top US auto awards this month, signaling a favorable start for the auto giant to gain fresh momentum in the sought-after market this year.The annual award given by 55 automotive journalists was announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit that officially kicked off Tuesday.The Hyundai Genesis G70 and Hyundai Kona won the North American car and utility vehicle of the year awards, respectively. Man

Jan. 15, 2019

Toyota Motor Korea fined 817 m won for deceptive advertising

South Korea's antitrust watchdog said Tuesday that it has fined Toyota Motor Korea Co. 817 million won ($729,000) for deceptive advertising of its RAV4 sport utility vehicle.Toyota Motor Korea advertised that its RAV4 obtained a top safety pick in five test categories, including the driver's side small overlap front and roof strength, from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2015. (Yonhap)In 2016, the RAV4 earned the Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the independent nonprofit organ

Jan. 15, 2019

Hyundai, Kia's US sales almost flat in 2018

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. posted 0.6 percent on-year sales growth in the United States last year due to a slowing economy and a lack of competitive models, the companies said Monday.In 2018, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 1.27 million vehicles in the US market. Hyundai's sales fell 1.1 percent on-year to 677,946 units and Kia's were little changed compared to a year earlier at 589,763 units, Hyundai Motor Group said in a statement, citing figures from Autodata Ltd., a

Jan. 14, 2019

S. Korea calls for auto tariff relief from US

South Korea's finance minister called Friday for an exemption from US tariffs on South Korean automobiles as he expressed deep concerns about an ongoing US probe.Hong Nam-ki, the minister of economy and finance, made the appeal in a meeting with US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris at the government complex building across from the US Embassy in central Seoul, according to the finance ministry. Hong Nam-ki (L), the minister of economy and finance, shakes hands with US Ambassador to South Ko

Jan. 11, 2019

Posco chief says no plans for overseas investment in steel sector

The head of the nation’s largest steelmaker Posco said he has no plans to make additional investment overseas in the steel sector this year but will focus on securing natural resources needed for its lithium-ion battery business touted as the company’s new growth engine.“With regard to steel, (I) don’t have any plans for making additional investment or (pursuing) mergers and acquisitions overseas,” said Posco Chairman Choi Jeong-woo in a brief meeting with reporters Thursday. “As for the new bus

Jan. 11, 2019

[Herald Interview] Rolls-Royce Motor CEO attributes record sales to Asia, Korea

Strong business growth in Asia was behind the record-breaking sales of British luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce last year, particularly in China and South Korea, its head said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “Our growth was fueled by a strong Asian business and a Korean business. We have seen an uptake in your market by around 40 percent compared to the year 2017 and for that reason I am very satisfied with the results,” said Torsten Muller-Otvos, chief executive officer of Rolls-Royce Motor C

Jan. 10, 2019

Apple thanks Korean police for seizing fake accessories

US tech giant Apple is planning to present a plaque to officers at a local police unit to express its gratitude for their efforts to prevent the sale of fake accessories worth 1 billion won ($892,000), sources told The Korea Herald on Wednesday.As a token of thanks, Donald Shruhan, senior regional director for Apple’s Asia-Pacific operations, will visit the Bucheon Sosa Police Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Friday to deliver a plaque of appreciation to investigators who arrested local

Jan. 9, 2019

Hyundai unveils world’s first holographic AR navigation system

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor has unveiled the world’s first holographic augmented reality navigation system equipped on its luxury sedan Genesis G80 in partnership with Swiss startup WayRay, the company said Wednesday.Introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show being held in Las Vegas, the holographic AR navigation technology delivers driving guidance by projecting navigational alerts through the windshield onto the road, the company said. A holographic augmented reality navigation syst

Jan. 9, 2019

Hyundai, Kia, Genesis win eight Good Design Awards

Hyundai Motor said Friday that eight cars from Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motors, as well as its premium brand Genesis, won 2018 Good Design Awards.According to the carmaker, its Le Fil Rouge, Santa Fe, Kona, Solati Moving Studio, Kia Motor’s K3 and K9 and Genesis’ Essentia Concept and G70 were awarded in the category of transportation design. This marks the ninth consecutive year Hyundai vehicles have been recognized with the honor.Jointly presented by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum

Jan. 4, 2019

Rexton Sports returns with wider utility deck

SsangYong Motor unveiled its upgraded pickup Rexton Sports Khan on Thursday, targeting drivers keen on outdoor activities and leisure sports. The main difference between the previous Rexton Sports and the new Rexton Sports Khan is a 310-millimeter-longer utility deck and improved loading capacity, the company said.  SsangYong Motor’s Rexton Sports Khan is displayed in Seoul on Thursday. (SsangYong Motor)The longer body Rexton Sports Khan has 24.8 percent increased deck space that can be loaded w

Jan. 3, 2019

Here’s what to expect in Korea’s green car market in 2019

After commanding significant attention last year, green cars are set to expand their presence in the auto industry even further this year thanks to higher government subsidies and the plans of import carmakers to release new eco-friendly models.Green cars, often considered to offer good value for money while minimizing harm to the environment, are looking even more promising both in terms of stronger performance and sleeker designs. Kia Motors` Soul EV (Kia Motors)The number of eco-friendly cars

Jan. 2, 2019

Hyundai Motor to run robo taxi pilot in 2021 in Korea

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor will start pilot operation of robo cabs here in 2021, part of a drive to become a smart mobility service provider, its chief said Wednesday.In a noticeable change for the 51-year-old car manufacturer, the conglomerate’s Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun said he would seek partnership with global leading companies to develop eco-friendly robo taxis that were both “safe and innovative.” Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun addresses th

Jan. 2, 2019

[Newsmaker] SsangYong Motor reinstates 71 workers, ends decade of labor-management conflict

SsangYong Motor, the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra, reinstated on Monday 71 employees and hired 34 new workers as a follow up measure of the September agreement ending a decadelong conflict between labor and management.“The decision to reinstate the workers was made to deal with the production of the long-body version of Rexton Sport and succeeding model of Korando C named C300 alongside reduced work hours,” the company said in a statement.In late September, four parti

Dec. 31, 2018

8 new cars secure govt. interior air quality approval

Eight new cars released in South Korea by local manufacturers this year secured governmental approval for their interior air quality, a report showed Monday.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said new vehicles produced and sold in the country were found to be safe from seven hazardous elements, including formaldehyde and toluene. (Yonhap)The cars that passed requirements are Hyundai Motor Co.'s G70, Santa Fe and Veloster; Kia Motors Corp.'s K3, K9 and Stonic; Renault Samsung's QM

Dec. 31, 2018

Samsung No. 1 in number of patents filed for self-driving cars

Samsung Electronics Co. filed the largest number of patents related to self-driving cars in Europe, data showed Monday, far above traditional automobile manufacturers.According to the data compiled by the European Patent Office, the number of applications related to self-driving cars filed in Europe came to 3,998 in 2017, growing more than threefold from 922 tallied in 2011.  (Yonhap)Over the 2011-2017 period, Samsung Electronics held the most patents at 624, trailed by US IT giant Intel Corp. w

Dec. 31, 2018

SsangYong offers safe passage with 4WD SUVs

SsangYong Motor’s four-wheel-drive G4 Rexton is perfect for winter sports and travel, the company said Sunday, citing its electronic stability program and the body-on-frame structure designed to ensure safety even on slippery roads.Not only the premium SUV G4 Rexton, but all the SUVs in the carmaker’s lineup -- including the Tivoli and the Rexton Sports -- provide comfort and safety for winter travelers thanks to “4Tronic” technology, which powers all four wheels so that they move forward on icy

Dec. 28, 2018

Hyundai to launch Kona Iron Man edition in January

South Korea’s leading automaker Hyundai Motor will start global sales of its limited-edition Kona Iron Man, inspired by the Marvel character, next month, the company said Thursday.A total of 7,000 units of the special-edition model will go on sale in countries including the United States, China and those in Europe, with 1,700 allotted solely for Korea. This is the world’s first vehicle incorporating a Marvel character theme, under the company’s partnership with Marvel signed in 2015, Hyundai sai

Dec. 27, 2018

Hyundai, Kia sweeps Korea NCAP

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, which combined form the world’s fifth-biggest carmaker, swept awards at the Korea New Car Assessment Program 2018, with Hyundai’s Nexo hydrogen fuel cell vehicle taking home three awards, the companies said Wednesday.At Korea NCAP, managed by the Transport Ministry, the Nexo sport utility vehicle took first in three categories -- midsize SUV, environmentally friendly car and child protection -- and dispelled worries that the hydrogen tank positioned at the back of t

Dec. 26, 2018