[Photo News] Kia EV9 wins UK Car of the Year

Kia's EV9, a large three-row electric SUV launched globally last year, has been named the 2024 UK Car of the Year. The vehicle was recognized by a panel of 30 judges, mainly automotive journalists from publications such as TopGear and Autocar, for its spacious interior that can accommodate up to seven seats, a substantial 489-kilometer maximum driving range, and a sleek design both inside and out, along with its feature-rich information system. (Hyundai Motor Group)

March 10, 2024

Hyundai Motor begins trade-in services for EVs

Hyundai Motor has begun a trade-in service for customers looking to buy new electric vehicles by offering incentives to encourage domestic EV sales, the South Korean automaker announced Thursday. The trade-in benefits, which became effective on March 1, apply to those who sell their cars to Hyundai Motor’s certified used vehicles service and buy the automaker's EVs: the Ioniq 5 and 6 as well as the Kona Electric. According to the company, customers who sell their used EVs made by Hyun

March 7, 2024

[From the Scene] Korean battery giants showcase new tech amid rivalry with China

South Korean battery makers showcased next-generation battery solutions amid competitive pressure from Chinese counterparts and a decelerating electric vehicle market at Interbattery 2024, Korea's largest gathering for the battery industry. This event, which kicked off at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Seoul on Wednesday, broke records, drawing an audience of 42,872 pre-registered attendees, a 77 percent increase compared to last year. LG Energy Solution took center stage with th

March 6, 2024

[Photo News] Hyundai in metaverse

Hyundai Motor Group has launched a virtual brand heritage world on Naver's metaverse platform Zepeto, the automaker announced Wednesday. Named "Timeless in Seoul," the virtual world features Hyundai's first self-developed and produced vehicle Pony and the automaker's awards-winning electric vehicle Ioniq 5. According to Naver, the number of Zepeto users has exceeded 300 million users worldwide. (Hyundai Motor Group)

March 6, 2024

LG launches battery swap service for e-scooters

LG Energy Solution said Tuesday that KooRoo, its company-in-company operating the battery swapping station business for electric two-wheelers, is kicking off full-scale operations following a successful pilot program. KooRoo's service allows users to easily swap the depleted batteries of electric scooters for fully charged ones, seeking to offer delivery riders reduced operating costs and increased convenience compared to conventional vehicles. A recent pilot program in collaboration with d

March 5, 2024

[KH Explains] Shipping constraints shackle Korea's auto export boom

Korean automakers are grappling to maintain their export momentum due to a shortage of car carriers to transport them, driven by the increasing volume of Chinese automotive exports and stringent maritime environmental regulations. The scenario has led to an unprecedented rise in the cost of chartering vehicle transport vessels. This comes as South Korea's auto production exceeded 4 million units for the first time in five years in 2023, with auto exports reaching a record $70.9 billion, con

March 4, 2024

Hyundai Mobis applies for 2,500 patents in 2023

Hyundai Mobis, an auto parts manufacturer under Hyundai Motor Group, said Monday that it had applied for 2,500 patents in and out of South Korea last year, with almost half of them related to its core business area of future mobility. According to Hyundai Mobis, about 1,200 patent applications were in future mobility sectors such as automation, autonomous driving and in-vehicle infotainment systems. “Hyundai Mobis' patent reinforcement activities are aimed at securing a competitive ad

March 4, 2024

[Photo News] The New Ioniq 5

Hyundai Motor Company on Monday announced the launch of the new Ioniq 5, the first product enhancement model of the automaker's signature all-electric vehicle since its debut in 2021. Equipped with an 84-kilowatt-hour battery, the upgraded EV has a driving range of up to 485 kilometers per charge, an increase of 27 km from the previous model. The EV also comes with the next-generation infotainment system called connected car navigation cockpit to offer the experience of a software-defined v

March 4, 2024

[Photo News] Tops in efficiency

Hyundai Motor's all-electric Ioniq 6 has been recognized as the most fuel-efficient 2024 model year vehicle by the US Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, the South Korean automaker said Sunday. The Ioniq 6 long-range, rear-wheel driving model with 18-inch wheels scored a combined 140 miles per gallon equivalent, or 59.5 kilometers per liter equivalent. The EPA's rating estimates the distance a car can travel on 33.7 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy. (Hyundai Mo

March 3, 2024

InterBattery 2024 to spotlight all-solid-state, affordable batteries

InterBattery 2024, the largest battery industry exhibition in Korea, will take place at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from March 6 to 9, attracting 579 companies from 18 countries and nearly 75,000 attendees for a comprehensive showcase of innovation, industry conferences and networking opportunities. Organized by the Korea Battery Industry Association and COEX, this year's event marks the largest gathering in the event's history, showcasing 1,896 boot

March 1, 2024

LG, Honda complete steel framework for JV battery plant

LG Energy Solution, the nation's largest electric vehicle battery maker, said Friday that its Ohio-based joint venture plant with Honda has recently completed its steel framework, indicating a smooth ride ahead for the plant’s full operation slated for 2025. The companies held a ceremony in Ohio's Fayette County on Thursday to celebrate the completion of the steel framework for the facility, which means that the construction has moved from site preparation and laying the foundati

March 1, 2024

[Photo News] The all-new CLE Coupe

Mercedes-Benz Korea showcased its all-new CLE Coupe and all-new CLE Cabriolet from Tuesday to Wednesday in Seoul, the company said Thursday. In this photo, Mercedes-Benz Korea CEO Mathias Vaitl (right) poses with the all-new CLE Coupe at the showcase. According to the German automaker, the new vehicle is offered in two trims -- the CLE 200 and CLE 450 4MATIC -- with starting prices at 72.7 million won ($54,500) and 96 million won, respectively. (Mercedes-Benz Korea)

Feb. 29, 2024

Hyundai wins most safety awards in US assessment

Hyundai Motor Group announced Wednesday that it has won the highest number of vehicle safety awards from the US Insurance Institute of Highway Safety among all assessed global automakers this year. According to the South Korean automaker, its three brands -- Hyundai Motor Company, Kia and Genesis -- won a combined 16 Top Safety Pick and TSP+ awards at this year’s annual assessment. “Hyundai Motor Group is proud to have earned the industry leadership position in the recent IIHS 2024 T

Feb. 28, 2024

[Photo News] Hyundai Staria Hybrid

Hyundai Motor Company on Wednesday started taking preorders for the 2024 Hyundai Staria and the newly-added hybrid model of the minivan. According to the automaker, the Staria 1.6 Turbo Hybrid boasts a fuel efficiency of 13 kilometers per liter with a maximum system horsepower of up to 245. The prices of the hybrid model and the 2024 year model begin at 34.33 million won ($25,763) and 28.47 million won, respectively. (Hyundai Motor Group)

Feb. 28, 2024

Maserati to set up Korean unit to bolster presence

Italian luxury auto brand Maserati will set up a Korean office on July 1 to strengthen its presence in the local market. Forza Motors Korea, the country’s official importer of Ferrari and Maserati, announced Monday that Maserati’s Korean business will be transferred to the Italian brand’s Korean office, adding that FMK will continue to closely work with Maserati to help smooth business transition and customer support. FMK, a luxury import car affiliate under South Korean conglo

Feb. 27, 2024

Ex-ministry official to join Hyundai’s global policy team

Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday that Woo Jung-yeop, a former director-general for strategy at South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is joining its Global Policy Office as a senior vice president. This appointment, effective Monday, is part of Hyundai's efforts to strengthen its response to global economic challenges, particularly in light of the US Inflation Reduction Act and the forthcoming US presidential election. The Global Policy Office at Hyundai, led by executive vice presi

Feb. 26, 2024

French ambassador visits Renault Korea's Busan plant

French Ambassador Philippe Bertoux visited the Renault Korea Motors plant in Busan on Friday, highlighting the facility's role in the automotive industries of both South Korea and France, and its position within the global Renault Group network. The visit was accompanied by Renault Korea Motors CEO Stephane Deblaise and other French Embassy officials including Economic Counselor Adeline-Lise Khov and Commercial Counselor Matthieu Lefort. The Busan plant, where Renault Korea's most popu

Feb. 25, 2024

Kia’s eco-friendly Niro hits 1 million units sold

Kia's Niro, an eco-friendly sports utility vehicle lineup featuring exclusively green powertrains, has reached a milestone by surpassing 1 million global sales in eight years after its launch, primarily fueled by the popularity of its hybrid model. According to Kia on Sunday, the Niro tallied 1,082,822 units in global sales by January this year, with a breakdown showing 1,241 units sold in its home market and exports exceeding 10,000 units in January alone. Initially unveiled as a hybrid ve

Feb. 25, 2024

Hyundai Motor pledges $1.1b investment in Brazil through 2032

Hyundai Motor Group has vowed to invest $1.1 billion in Brazil as Chung Euisun, the head of the South Korean auto conglomerate, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met at the latter’s presidential office in the capital city of Brasilia on Thursday, officials announced Friday. Chung said Hyundai Motor Company’s Brazilian office and its local partners will plow the investment into future technology as well as eco-friendly sectors such as hydrogen. “Hyundai Motor Gro

Feb. 23, 2024

[KH Explains] Will LG Energy Solution be Tesla's 4680 battery crisis savior?

Four years after Tesla revealed the hyped Cybertruck, its production still lags with 1.9 million orders pending. The bottleneck stems from challenges in mass-producing what are known as 4680 battery cells, which are key to the Cybertruck’s success due to their superior energy density and cost efficiency. Currently, Tesla can only produce a fraction -- only a tenth -- of the required output, pushing it to lean on global battery manufacturers. LG Energy Solution, a leading South Korean batte

Feb. 22, 2024