Doosan, LG team up to debut EV charging robot

Doosan Robotics has teamed up with LG Electronics to test an automated electric vehicle charging system that uses its advanced collaborative robots to streamline the EV charging process. This system combines LG’s 100-kilowatt fast chargers with Doosan’s high-dexterity collaborative robotics tech to replace the manual process of handling bulky charging cables that drivers often find cumbersome. The companies started a pilot operation for their new automated EV charging station last Th

April 16, 2024

[Photo News] Opposites United

Kia is presenting its design philosophy Opposites United at Milan Design Week 2024 this week with a second-year solo exhibition at the Museo della Permanente art museum. This year's display features collaborations with four artists who explore the philosophy’s fusion of contrasting elements to create cohesive vehicle designs. Visitors can explore five thematic areas, including an immersive installation highlighted by complex lighting patterns that illustrate the synergy of cutting-edg

April 16, 2024

BMW purchases over $4.7b Korea-made parts in 2023

BMW Group Korea said on Monday that in 2023, BMW Group’s global spending on parts sourced from Korean suppliers totaled approximately 6.53 trillion won ($4.72 billion), surpassing its own sales figures within the country for that year. The global group’s procurement from Korean suppliers increased by 25 percent compared to 2022, and even exceeded the Korean branch’s sales revenue, which was around 6.10 trillion won last year. Major contributors to this supply chain include dome

April 15, 2024

Hyundai Mobis to test fully autonomous driving in Incheon

Hyundai Mobis, an auto parts manufacturer under Hyundai Motor Group, said Monday that it will begin conducting test rides of level 4 autonomous driving in Incheon this month to accelerate the commercialization of self-driving vehicles. The Society of Automotive Engineers categorizes autonomous driving in six levels, ranging from 0 to 5. Level 4 autonomous driving requires the vehicle to perform the majority of driving tasks independently. The auto parts maker signed a memorandum of understanding

April 15, 2024

[KH Explains] How should Korea adjust its trade defenses against Chinese EVs?

Korea, home of the world’s third-largest automaker, Hyundai Motor Group, finds itself at a critical juncture as the rise of Chinese-made electric vehicles in the domestic market poses a complex challenge: how to protect national interests while embracing the inevitable shift toward electrification. Unlike the United States and the European Union, which perceive Chinese EVs as a grave security threat, experts argue Korea should adopt a more nuanced regulatory strategy. This involves refinin

April 15, 2024

[Photo News] Free charging

Hyundai Motor Group will offer free charging for drivers who rent its electric vehicles from Lotte Rent-a-Car in Jeju starting Monday, the automaker said Sunday. Drivers will be able to charge their rented EVs to up to 80 percent for free if they use a fast charger installed at Hyundai Motor charging stations named E-pit. There are three E-pit stations on Jeju Island with 16 chargers. The free charging service will be offered through Oct. 15. (Hyundai Motor Group)

April 14, 2024

Hyundai to start hydrogen vehicle trials in Guangzhou this year

Hyundai Motor Group plans to expand operations at its HTWO Guangzhou facility -- its first overseas hydrogen fuel cell system production plant -- by initiating pilot projects for commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles this year. Lee Hyuk-joon, executive vice president of Hyundai Motor Group China, detailed the initiative Tuesday at the 10th Annual Guangzhou International Investment Conference. Hyundai HTWO is a dedicated brand created by the Hyundai Motor Group to represent their hydrogen fuel c

April 12, 2024

Korean auto exports hit record $17.5 billion in Q1

Korean automobile exports reached a record $17.5 billion in the first quarter of this year, marking a 2.7 percent increase from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Thursday. Automobile exports surged to $6.2 billion in March alone, following a slight dip to $5.2 billion the previous month. This boost was largely driven by the robust performance of hybrid vehicles, which did not include plug-in hybrids. Hybrid vehicle exports in March soared to a

April 12, 2024

Kia unveils new pickup brand Tasman

Korean automaker Kia on Thursday officially unveiled its first-ever pickup truck, the Kia Tasman, setting its sights primarily on the Australian market with a diesel-powered model planned for 2025. The Tasman, whose name pays homage to the Tasman Sea that lies between Australia and New Zealand, represents Kia's most direct nod to Australian culture. It is the first Kia product to bear an Aussie-inspired name. The name also reflects the country’s deep affinity for pickup trucks, colloquiall

April 11, 2024

[Photo News] New bullet train

Hyundai Rotem said Tuesday that it has completed a quality inspection of the KTX Cheong-ryong, its newest bullet train that has a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour, before it gets handed over to the Korea Railroad Corporation for operation. Hyundai Rotem's new bullet train has undergone over 180,000 km of test rides on railroads across the country since October 2022. The KTX Cheong-ryong will begin operations next month. (Hyundai Rotem)

April 9, 2024

Hyundai, Kia expand role in India’s EV localization

Hyundai Motor and Kia announced Monday that they have signed a strategic partnership with Exide Energy, a leading battery company in India, to speed up India’s transition into electric vehicles and expand the Korean automakers’ presence there. Under the partnership, Exide Energy will develop lithium-iron-phosphate, or LFP, battery cells and supply them to the automakers’ manufacturing footholds in India. The LFP battery cells will be loaded onto the carmakers’ India-speci

April 8, 2024

Mercedes-Benz charity run raises record donations

Mercedes-Benz’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee said Monday that the Give ‘N Race charity event, held in Busan on Sunday, raised an unprecedented 1.017 billion won ($751,500), with the engagement of 20,000 participants. Initiated in 2017 as part of its commitment to social responsibility, Mercedes-Benz has consistently organized the Give ‘N Race to support vulnerable children and youth in Korea by merging philanthropy and running. This year’s event, the 11th, br

April 8, 2024

[Photo News] Mobility for dogs

Innocean, a global marketing and communications affiliate under Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Group, said Monday that it has drafted a virtual mobility campaign for dogs by using generative artificial intelligence. Launched on April Fools' Day, the so-called "Dogbility" campaign uses images drawn by generative AI, including vehicles specifically built for dogs. Innocean said the images reflect Hyundai Motor's vision -- "Progress for Humanity" -- for not only human

April 8, 2024

[Herald Interview] Porsche zeroes in on making more fans with new Panamera

The chief of the Porche's Panamera line said building a bigger local fandom will be the carmaker's most important goal as the sporty sedan's third-generation was rolled out in Korea. “The question is not only ‘how do we get the customers to the brand and how do we get them not only as customers and drivers of our cars' (but also) 'How do we get them as fans of the brand?’” said Thomas Friemuth, the head of Porsche’s Panamera product line at

April 7, 2024

[KH Explains] Hyundai Motor’s bet on robot dog befalls murky outlook

Hyundai Motor Group has found itself at a crossroads as Boston Dynamics, a US-based robotics company that the Korean auto conglomerate acquired in 2021, struggles to find a breakthrough amid mounting losses. Over two years have passed since Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun appeared on stage with Boston Dynamics’ four-legged, dog-like robot, Spot, at the CES 2022 in Las Vegas. “Robots are getting closer to humans. Just like you are carrying your phone today, in the

April 7, 2024

Kia to invest W38tr through 2028 with focus on automation

Kia on Friday unveiled a plan to invest 38 trillion won ($28.1 billion) through 2028 in an investor relations event held at Conrad Seoul, vowing to lead the global auto industry’s automation. According to the Korean automaker, 65 percent of the large-scale investment will be injected into automation, 19 percent will be used for developing purpose-built vehicles, which were redefined as "platform beyond vehicles" at CES in January, 8 percent will be spent on the transition to soft

April 5, 2024

EV sales drop 25% in S. Korea in Q1; hybrid car sales jump

Electric vehicle sales in South Korea plunged 25 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, while gasoline hybrid model sales jumped 46 percent during the same period, according to a market tracker Friday. From January to March, the country's EV registrations fell to 25,550 units from 34,186 in the same period of last year as global EV sales growth slows, CarIsYou said in a statement. It is the first time for the first-quarter EV sales to fall compared to a year earlier, the statemen

April 5, 2024

Renault Korea announces rebrand for fresh start

Renault Korea, the Korean branch of the French automotive firm, announced on Wednesday a significant rebranding initiative and the 2025 launch of the Renault Scenic E-Tech, an all-electric compact crossover SUV, in the Korean market. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Renault Seongsu flagship store in eastern Seoul. The rebranding sees Renault Korea shedding its previous moniker, Renault Korea Motors, in favor of a sleeker identity that simply reads "Renault Korea.&q

April 3, 2024

Hyundai Mobis' media platform gets digital face-lift

Hyundai Mobis, a key subsidiary of the Hyundai Motor Group specializing in automotive components, unveiled Wednesday a comprehensive refurbishment of its media website, Mobis Live, aiming to bolster its communication channels. Mobis Live serves as the firm’s official platform to provide insights into the broader mobility industry and the latest developments within the company. This revamp is a part of the strategy to solidify its position as a central hub for mobility-related narratives th

April 3, 2024

[Photo News] Hyundai's new delivery robot

Hyundai Motor Group on Wednesday unveiled DAL-e Delivery, the auto giant's upgraded indoor delivery robot for use in buildings. According to the auto conglomerate, the robot, which is based on four plug-and-drive modules, can move at a speed of up to 4.32 kilometers per hour -- equivalent to the average walking pace of an adult. The robot can also load up to 10 kilograms. The robots will be dispatched to the Factorial Seongsu office building in western Seoul in the second quarter of this ye

April 3, 2024