Renault’s LPG-powered QM6 nears 100,000 unit sales

The New QM6 by Renault Korea Motors is the only sport utility vehicle in Korea that is powered by liquefied petroleum gas or LPG. Highlighting the high demand for the LPG model among Korean drivers, the carmaker said almost seven out of 10 QM6 cars sold in the first half of this year were LPG models. Since its debut in 2019, the QM6 LPe is expected to hit the 100,000 mark in sales in the near future. According to Renault, one of the key reasons behind the LPG model’s huge success is its re

July 21, 2023

Hyundai Motor unveils nanotechnology vision

Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it has developed six kinds of nanotechnologies that will be key drivers of growth in future mobility, ranging from autonomous driving cars to software defined vehicles. Nanotechnology creates new materials by synthesizing or fabricate arrays of materials that are 1 billionth of a meter in width. “Only when we secure top level materials technology in mobility can we improve the performance and durability of car parts and vehicles which will offer a competit

July 20, 2023

Georgia road renamed 'SK Boulevard' in nod to economic boost

The “SK Boulevard” debuted in Jackson Country in the US state of Georgia on Wednesday, replacing the former Steve Reynolds Industrial Parkway in recognition of the contributions of SK Battery America to the local economy, SK On, the battery making unit of SK Group said Thursday. The announcement was made at a signage ceremony at SKBA's Georgia facility attended by key local figures including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Commerce City Mayor Clark Hill, and Jackson County Chamber of C

July 20, 2023

[KH explains] How to stay safe driving through flood water

Flooding due to monsoon rains in South Korea has resulted in dozens of casualties this week, raising the issue of vehicle safety during storms. Drivers need to take extra care and be vigilant to avoid getting trapped in submerged cars, according to experts. “It is recommended to reduce speed, almost by 20 percent of the speed limit to prevent the car from skidding on wet roads,” said Lee Ho-geun, a car engineering professor at Daeduk University. “Also, keep longer stopping di

July 19, 2023

Tesla's China-made Model Y unlikely to receive full subsidy in Korea

Tesla's Chinese-made all-electric sport utility vehicle Model Y is unlikely to be eligible for full government subsidies in Korea, according to the Ministry of Environment. The ministry issued a note saying that the EV subsidy assessment was still ongoing, and that the rear-wheel drive car, manufactured in Shanghai, does not meet two of the four criteria that would qualify them for the full subsidy amount. “As the EV subsidy assessment is ongoing for Tesla’s Model Y, nothing has

July 18, 2023

Hyundai unveils all-new Santa Fe SUV ahead of launch in August

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker by sales, on Tuesday unveiled the design of the all-new Santa Fe SUV ahead of its planned world premiere in August. The fifth-generation Santa Fe is a full-change model from the fourth-generation one released in 2018. It comes with a maximized rear cargo capacity in line with the latest outdoor lifestyle trends, the company said in a statement. "The all-new Santa Fe is an SUV that finds a perfect balance between the city and the great o

July 18, 2023

[Photo News] All-new Santa Fe unveiled

Hyundai Motor on Tuesday unveiled the all-new Santa Fe, the South Korean automaker's signature midsized sports utility vehicle. The SUV's fifth-generation model underwent a full face-lift for the first time in five years. With the H-shaped headlamps featuring the carmaker's emblem, Hyundai said the vehicle is designed to fit both city and outdoor lifestyles. The automaker plans to disclose the SUV's specifications on Aug. 10.

July 18, 2023

Korea to dominate 75% of battery separator market by 2030: report

South Korean battery materials makers are expected to take up 75 percent of separator film production within North America and Europe by 2030, a report showed Monday. Of the Korean companies, SK IE Technology, an electronics materials maker affiliated with SK Group, is projected to control the largest market share of 33 percent with an annual production capacity of 380 million square meters of separators in the cited period, according to energy market tracker SNE Research. Battery separator fi

July 17, 2023

S. Korea, Thailand discuss enhanced ties on EVs, advanced industries

Senior officials of South Korea and Thailand discussed ways Monday to expand bilateral cooperation on electric vehicles and other future industries, Seoul's industry ministry said. The discussion was made during a meeting between Deputy Trade Minister Jeong Dae-jin and Nattapol Rangsitpol, permanent secretary of Thailand's industry ministry, in Seoul, as the Thai official was visiting the country as part of his government's economic delegation, according to the Ministry of Trade,

July 17, 2023

[Photo News] Mercedes-Benz Mobile Academy

Mercedes-Benz Korea said Sunday that a total of 11 South Korean college students have visited the carmaker’s facilities in Germany, including a smart factory in Sindelfingen and an AMG factory as part of an industry-university cooperation program, named Mercedes-Benz Mobile Academy. Since the program’s 2014 launch, more than 150 students have visited the European country. “I hope this year’s headquarters visit program will serve as a good referendum for the young traine

July 16, 2023

Hyundai’s N brand hits 100,000 unit sales

Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday its high-performance N brand has hit the 100,000 sales mark since its official launch in 2015. The brand’s six cars, including the very first i30 N and the recent Kona N, sold a total of 103,947 units globally as of the day. The South Korean auto giant offered an upbeat outlook for sales of the N brand, with the latest launch of the Ioniq 5 N -- the brand’s first full-electric car -- scheduled to make its commercial debut in September. Under the slogan

July 16, 2023

Kia's India plant manufactures 1m vehicles in 4 years

Kia’s manufacturing plant located in Anantapur, India, celebrated the manufacturing of its 1 millionth vehicle after four years on Thursday. Since setting up production in India in 2019, Kia has produced some 532,450 units of the compact SUV Seltos, accounting for the majority of those made there. Other vehicles produced there include 332,450 of compact SUV Sonet, 120,516 Carens and 14,574 of the Carnival minivan. At a ceremony celebrating the plant’s manufacturing milestone, executi

July 14, 2023

[Photo News] Hyundai Ioniq 5 N unveiled

Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon (left) and Till Wartenberg, head of N brand, pose for a photo next to the Ioniq 5 N, the carmaker’s first all-electric high-performance car, at the unveiling event held during the Festival of Speed in Goodwood House, West Sussex, England, Thursday. The first electric variant of the N brand boasts 487kW of power and 770Nm of torque, equipped with advanced features such as an 84 kWh high-power battery pack and a heat control system specifically designed for

July 13, 2023

Kia vows $200m to produce EV9 at Georgia plant

Kia will invest over $200 million to manufacture the company’s latest all-electric three-row sport utility vehicle EV9 from its plant in the US state of Georgia, the South Korean automaker’s American office announced Wednesday local time. The company’s Georgia West Point assembly plant will be able to produce the EV9 in the second quarter of 2024, Kia said. The three-row EV SUV will be Kia’s first EV to be manufactured in North America. The West Point site currently produ

July 13, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'Samsung SDI to play vital role in accelerating Indiana's EV transition'

Samsung SDI’s recent joint venture deal with General Motors to construct an electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing plant in Indiana is expected to play a pivotal role in fostering a more advanced manufacturing workforce. “We’ve got five auto OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) (including GM and Toyota) in Indiana that give us tons of auto (workers). However, they are mostly focused on working on the production lines of internal combustion engine cars,” Indiana&rs

July 13, 2023

[Exclusive] Hyundai’s 'walking vehicle' obtains US patents

Hyundai Motor Group has obtained patents for walking vehicles in the US, taking the next step in making the South Korean auto giant’s futuristic four-legged cars a reality. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, two patent applications for walking vehicles were published under the names of both Hyundai and Kia on July 6, about 19 months after the two companies filed for the patents on Dec. 31, 2021. The patents protect the technologies of Hyundai’s concept car, E

July 11, 2023

Kia names new PBV chief in Europe

Hyundai Motor Group’s sister firm Kia said Tuesday it has tapped Pierre-Martin Bos, a commercial vehicle specialist, as the European chief of its burgeoning purpose-built vehicle, or PBV, business. PBVs refer to battery-powered cars designed to meet specific customer needs such as delivery, ride-hailing and business-to-business transactions. With 25 years of experience, Bos previously worked for Fiat and Stellantis, where he was tasked with handling sales and marketing of commercial vehicl

July 11, 2023

Hyundai Motor Group ranks No. 2 in US EV sales

Hyundai Motor Group became the second-largest car brand in terms of sales in the US electric vehicles market in the first quarter of this year, data showed Monday. Following Tesla’s 336,892 units, Hyundai and its smaller affiliate, Kia, sold 38,457 units in the first half of this year, up by 11 percent compared to 2022, according to auto market tracker Motor Intelligence, cited by CNBC. Hyundai-Kia outpaced General Motors, which was second in EV sales during the January - June period last

July 10, 2023

[KH Explains] Will Hyundai Motor stick to its own charger technology in US?

Hyundai Motor Group has reportedly started discussions on its electric vehicle charger strategy as a growing number of carmakers are joining market leader Tesla’s own Supercharger network in the US, according to industry sources Monday. “I’ve heard that Hyundai Motor Group has been holding a series of emergency meetings to tackle the issue,” an industry source close to the matter told The Korea Herald on condition of anonymity. “The carmaker has been preparing to bo

July 10, 2023

Travel demand to Hong Kong struggles amid anti-China sentiment

Travel demand to Hong Kong remains weak among South Korean travelers, data showed Sunday, with a report suggesting anti-China sentiment is still prevailing. A total of 591,998 passengers used the air routes between Korea and Hong Kong from January to May, according to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The number is only 35.3 percent of the passengers recorded in the same period four years ago, when the pandemic had yet to break loose. Meanwhile, the number of passenge

July 9, 2023