Samsung, Hyundai ink first EV battery deal

Samsung SDI said Monday it has clinched a deal to supply electric vehicle batteries for Hyundai Motor Group – the first battery partnership between the two chaebol groups. Under the deal, Samsung SDI will supply prismatic batteries produced at its Hungary plant for Hyundai EVs made in Europe for seven years, from 2026 through 2032. Although the exact size of the deal was not disclosed immediately, industry sources predict that Samsung SDI could supply batteries to power up to 500,000 high-

Oct. 23, 2023

China’s export curbs on graphite may raise battery prices for EVs

China last week unveiled its plans to restrict exports of graphite starting from December, piling pressure on Korean companies that are highly dependent on one of the key anode materials for making electric vehicle batteries. The world’s top graphite producer and exporter said Friday that export permits will be mandated to ship synthetic graphite material -- including high-purity, high-hardness and high-density versions -- as well as natural flake graphite from China. Chinese graphite manu

Oct. 23, 2023

Mercedes-Benz Korea ramps up efforts to nurture tech talent

Mercedes-Benz Korea has been investing heavily in training employees and young students as part of efforts to enhance customer service and technical expertise in the automotive maintenance field. Since 2007, the Korean unit of the German luxury carmaker has organized “Korea TechMasters,” a biennial technical skills competition, while also running separate automotive training programs including Ausbildung and Automotive Electric Traineeship. This year’s technical contest saw

Oct. 22, 2023

EcoPro seeks big leap as global battery materials maker

South Korean battery materials manufacturer EcoPro, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, has laid out a goal to post 10 trillion won ($7.41 billion) in sales next year. EcoPro CEO Song Ho-jun and top executives of the firm's subsidiaries, including EcoPro BM, participated in a celebratory event held at the company’s headquarters in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, on Friday. Preparing for the next 25 years, EcoPro said it plans to develop game changer materials, diversi

Oct. 22, 2023

[KH Explains] Is Tesla ditching its premium strategy?

Tesla, the world’s No. 1 electric vehicle manufacturer, is slashing car prices worldwide to further consolidate its leadership, seemingly willing to sacrifice its long-held premium brand image. In September, Tesla’s Model Y sport utility vehicle topped import car sales in Korea, selling a total of 4,206 vehicles, an 876 percent surge from a month ago, according to market tracker Carisyou. The Model Y outpaced Mercedes-Benz’s E-Class, the best-selling import car of 2022, which s

Oct. 22, 2023

Hyundai Motor, Kia ranked in mid range of global eco-friendliness list

Hyundai Motor and its affiliate firm Kia were ranked in ninth place on a new Greenpeace study on 15 automakers' decarbonization efforts, down four spots from the environmental organization's assessment a year ago. According to Greenpeace East Asia’s analysis on Thursday, the South Korean carmakers received 5.58 points for the proportion of zero-emission vehicle sales and a mere 3 points for decarbonizing efforts in their supply chains. Noting that the sales of sports utility vehi

Oct. 19, 2023

[Photo News] Kia EV9 for Rafael Nadal

Korean automaker Kia presents the EV9, the carmaker’s first three-row battery-powered sport utility vehicle, to its brand ambassador and renowned tennis player Rafael Nadal at the IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid on Wednesday. In October 2021, the company gave Nadal the EV6, its first electric vehicle to have adopted Hyundai Motor Group’s EV platform. Kia has sponsored Nadal since 2004 and recently renewed the partnership until 2025. (Kia)

Oct. 19, 2023

Hyundai, Kia team up with Infineon on EV power chips

Hyundai Motor Company and its sister firm Kia announced Wednesday that they have signed a strategic partnership with Infineon Technologies AG, a global top-tier automotive semiconductor developer, to upgrade electric vehicle performance and secure power semiconductor supply chains. Under the partnership, the South Korean automakers will cooperate with the chipmaker to develop technologies with a goal to enhance the power performance of EVs and hybrid vehicles slated to be released in the future.

Oct. 18, 2023

Kia reaches tentative agreement with union

Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday that its affiliate Kia has reached a tentative agreement with its labor union, continuing wage talks without a strike for a third consecutive year. The management and labor union members sat down for the 16th round of negotiations at Kia Autoland in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. The most pressing item on the agenda was whether Kia would remove a clause in the collective agreement that allows for the hiring of children of workers with more than 25 yea

Oct. 18, 2023

[Photo News] BMW XM unveiled

BMW’s XM Label Red, a limited edition sport activity vehicle under the M performance brand, is displayed Wednesday ahead of the BMW Ladies Championship that kicks off Thursday in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. The German carmaker plans to unveil two M cars – the XM Label Red and the i7 M70 xDrive, the first battery-powered 7 Series model --during the four-day event. BMW has showcased its latest models during the nation’s only LPGA tour every year since 2019. (BMW Korea)

Oct. 18, 2023

VW’s ID.4 EV gains foothold with competitive pricing

Volkswagen’s pure electric sport utility vehicle ID.4 has been gaining traction in Korea, especially among drivers in their 30s and 40s, as one of the most reasonably priced premium EVs. According to Volkswagen Korea, its competitive pricing sets the car apart from other EV rivals. The 2023 all-electric ID.4 is priced in the range of 50 million won ($37,000), but with a government subsidy of up to 5.8 million won, the price can be further lowered to the upper 40 million won range. In Aug

Oct. 18, 2023

[Photo News] Green Education

GREEN+Kids, Mercedes-Benz Korea's environmental education program for children here, has been recognized as an outstanding environmental education program by the Ministry of Environment, the automaker's corporate social responsibility committee said Wednesday. The GREEN+Kids program, which is aimed at guiding children toward a carbon neutral lifestyle and teach everyday practices to reduce their carbon footprint, has reached 427 social welfare institutions and elementary schools nation

Oct. 18, 2023

Hyundai Motor shows off air mobility, drone tech at Seoul defense fair

Hyundai Motor Group said Tuesday that its urban air mobility arm Supernal, along with its sister firm Kia, are showcasing their latest UAM vision and drone technology at this week's Seoul ADEX 2023, Korea’s largest aerospace and defense trade show. This is the first time for the US-based Supernal to set up an exhibition booth at the biennial event since its launch in 2020. During the event, it aims to raise its brand awareness and seek new business opportunities. At this year’s

Oct. 17, 2023

[Photo News] Genesis promotes Busan's expo bid

A Genesis G80 sedan, wrapped with the promotional designs for Busan’s Expo bid, is displayed at Hyundai Motor Studio in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Hyundai Motor Group said the special exhibition will be held until Nov. 28 when the host country of the 2030 World Expo is decided during the general gathering of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris. (Hyundai Motor Group)

Oct. 17, 2023

Kia to expand EV lineup with mass market appeal

Kia on Thursday unveiled three new small- to medium-sized electric vehicles, vowing to lead the popularization of EVs across the world by offering more affordable options for customers. “Kia is keenly focused on providing solutions to the concerns that continue to cause hesitation when it comes to making an EV purchase. We will meet customer expectations by offering a full line-up of EVs at various price points and improve charging infrastructure availability,” said Kia CEO Song Ho-s

Oct. 12, 2023

Samsung SDI, Stellantis to set up 2nd JV plant in Indiana

Samsung SDI said Thursday it is poised to set up a second electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant with Stellantis in the US state of Indiana. The production facility will be built by StarPlus Energy, a joint venture of Samsung SDI and Stellantis in the city of Kokomo, next to the JV’s first plant under construction within the region. The first and second StarPlus Energy Kokomo Gigafactory plants will start operation in the first quarter of 2025 and early 2027 for 33 GWh and 34 GWh cap

Oct. 12, 2023

Hyundai Motor chair marks 3rd year of record earnings

Hyundai Motor Group is expected to post record earnings this year, breaking its own record for the third year in a row since Executive Chair Chung Euisun took the helm of the world's third largest carmaker in 2020. Hyundai and its smaller affiliate Kia are projected to post 260.8 trillion won ($192.5 billion) and 26.6 trillion won in sales and operating profits this year, according to estimates by market tracker FnGuide. Both figures stand at an all-time high. Since Chung took up leadership

Oct. 10, 2023

[Photo News] In Paris for Busan

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun (right) talks with a member of a foreign delegation at a banquet in Paris on Monday, the night before a symposium on Tuesday to promote Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Hyundai Motor provided 10 electric vehicles wrapped in designs promoting Busan's Expo bid for the Korean delegation, as it carries out various campaign activities such as hosting the symposium and a K-pop concert in the French capital this week. (Hyundai Motor Gro

Oct. 10, 2023

[Test Drive] BMW 5 Series makes more powerful, elegant comeback

BMW’s 5 Series, one of the bestselling premium sedans in Korea, has returned with full-change upgrades in design and driving performance, making its global debut in the country in six years. The 5 Series has sold over 8 million units worldwide since its launch of the first generation model in 1972. Korea, in particular, has shown great enthusiasm for the high-end sedan, taking approximately 20 percent of total sales last year, according to the German carmaker. “We know how important

Oct. 8, 2023

Hyundai, Kia to transition to Tesla charging system in North America

South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia on Thursday announced a shift to Tesla's charging system for their electric vehicles sold in North America, joining other automakers such as General Motors, Ford and Mercedes-Benz. The change will take effect in the US by the end of next year and extend to Canada by mid-2025. The transition from the Combined Charging System, the widely adopted charging standard that Hyundai-Kia currently employs for their North American EVs, to Tesla's Nort

Oct. 6, 2023