Hyundai, Kia hit 800,000 sales milestone in India

Hyundai Motor Group sold more than 800,000 cars in India last year, a 17.5 percent growth compared to a year ago, the auto giant said Monday. With the upbeat figures, India has emerged as the South Korean carmaker’s third-largest market after the US and its home turf. A total of 807,067 vehicles were sold by the automotive duo, with Hyundai and Kia selling 552,511 and 254,556 units, respectively. Kia, especially, posted stunning growth in recent years, with its sales jumping more than 40 p

Jan. 3, 2023

[KH Explains] How imminent are Hyundai’s ‘Made-in-Saudi Arabia’ cars?

Hyundai Motor Group is considering setting up its first Middle East plant in Saudi Arabia, paving the way for it to secure footing in the region’s burgeoning automotive market. The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources on Saturday announced in a tweet that the kingdom had inked a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean carmaker to advance joint cooperation for the auto industry in the region to achieve its national goal of developing local manufacturing capabilities. M

Jan. 2, 2023

Han Sung Motor committed to nurturing young artists

Han Sung Motor, South Korea's official importer of Mercedes-Benz cars, said Thursday it had completed its annual Dream Gream program that awards talented young artists with scholarships and mentoring opportunities. Under the slogan, “New Earth, New World,” this year’s program aimed to bridge eco-friendly management with the digital world, with environmental, social and corporate governance and the metaverse being main themes. The company said it chose the themes to show it

Dec. 29, 2022

[Photo News] Santa on wheels

Hyundai Motor has sponsored 107 million won ($84,300) to host Christmas parties and deliver holiday gifts for some 1,200 children at 32 child welfare institutions across S. Korea, the carmaker said Tuesday. Dubbed "Santa Expedition," Hyundai Motor has conducted the year-end social contribution program annually since 2016 in collaboration with ChildFund Korea to give gifts to a total of 4,700 children in the country. (Hyundai Motor Group)

Dec. 27, 2022

Battery makers shell out to lure US tech talent

South Korean battery makers are luring tech talent in the US with big welfare benefits and other hefty incentives to fuel their growth momentum in the burgeoning electric vehicle market, industry sources said Monday. Starting from Jan. 1, LG Energy Solution, the largest battery maker here, will extend its medical welfare policy by offering free health insurance to some 2,000 employees working at its Michigan plant along with their family members. Currently, the company covers insurance for denta

Dec. 26, 2022

[Test Drive] All-new Grand Cherokee blends off-road features with luxurious city driving

The Grand Cherokee -- Jeep’s flagship sport utility vehicle -- has been at the top of the game in the global SUV market. As the most-awarded SUV model, it has won over 700 accolades since its first generation made its debut in 1992, according to the carmaker. The all-new Grand Cherokee 4xe, a plug-in hybrid SUV that recently became available for sale in South Korea, features the carmaker’s latest EV technology and off-road strengths. The Grand Cherokee 4xe allows drivers to select

Dec. 25, 2022

International flight passengers exceed domestic travelers for first time since pandemic

The number of international flight passengers exceeded domestic travelers for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, data showed Sunday, with the figure still remaining at half the pre-pandemic levels. According to data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of international flight passengers was 3.08 million in November, while the figure for domestic flight passengers was 2.85 million. It was the first time the country saw the number of

Dec. 25, 2022

Battery giants to see W50tr revenue amid booming EV market

South Korean battery giants -- LG Energy Solutions, Samsung SDI and SK On -- are expected to see a combined sales of some 50 trillion won ($39 billion), marking a record-breaking year amid burgeoning demand for electric vehicles overseas. LG Energy Solutions’ revenue this year is estimated to surge on-year by 41.4 percent to 25.2 trillion won, according to data from market tracker FnGuide. Net profit would skyrocket 95.3 percent to 1.5 trillion won, surpassing the 1 trillion won mark for

Dec. 23, 2022

SsangYong Motor to change name to KG Mobility

SsangYong Motor will change its name to KG Mobility to maximize the carmaker’s strengths in the future, KG Group Chairman Kwak Jea-sun said Wednesday. “The name -- SsangYong Motor -- has a fandom with good memories, but it also has a painful image,” Kwak said at an event held by the Korea Automobile Journalists Association at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. “From now, all SsangYong cars will come out to the world under the name of KG. Even with the name change, SsangYong Motor&

Dec. 22, 2022

Hyundai Motor hits milestone of 15 million US vehicle sales

Cumulative sales of Hyundai Motor vehicles in the United States since the automaker began operations there 36 years ago reached 15 million on Wednesday, according to data presented by the automaker on Thursday. Hyundai Motor America, the automaker’s US subsidiary, delivered on Wednesday its 15 millionth vehicle to a customer at the West Herr Hyundai dealer in Williamsville, New York. Hyundai Motor kicked off its US operations in 1986 when it exported its Excel model. The Excel was Hyundai&

Dec. 22, 2022

[KH Explains] Tips to minimize EV range loss in cold weather

Cold wave alerts prompt drivers to take greater caution to stay safe on snowy and icy roads. However, some 370,000 electric vehicle owners face an extra challenge with less driving range. Combustion engine and hybrid cars see their fuel economy fall by 10 to 20 percent in freezing weather. But the impact is much more severe for EVs, experts say. “At minus 10 degrees Celsius, EVs that have heater pumps show 20-25 percent drop in driving range, while those with no heater pumps can decrease i

Dec. 21, 2022

[Photo News] Hyundai's all new Kona

HYUNDAI'S ALL NEW KONA -- Hyundai Motor on Tuesday unveiled the design of the upcoming second-generation compact SUV Kona. It is the car's first face-lift since its debut in 2017. The carmaker plans to unveil the car and its first electrified version earlier next year.

Dec. 20, 2022

Hyundai Motor prepares for future with younger executives

Hyundai Motor Group on Tuesday promoted 176 employees to executive positions with a focus on rewarding achievements and preparing for the future as one in three of the newly promoted personnel were in their 40s. The company said the executive promotions were performance-based, as the global carmaker sought to find leaders who can continue to carry out ongoing changes and future innovation in a stable manner to cope with uncertain business environments. Of the 224 new promotions, about 70 percent

Dec. 20, 2022

LG Energy Solution to invest W4tr in battery plant expansion

South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution will invest 4 trillion won ($3.1 billion) in expanding battery manufacturing facilities at its Ochang plants in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, through 2026, the company announced Monday. Representatives from the battery maker, the local government of North Chungcheong Province and the city of Chungju signed the investment agreement earlier in the day. The investment will go toward expanding and upgrading the cylindrical battery production line

Dec. 19, 2022

Samsung, BMW chiefs ramp up electric vehicle battery partnership

Chief executives of Samsung Electronics and BMW Group, two leading business moguls in tech and automotive industries, met on Saturday to strengthen their electric vehicle battery alliance. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong met with BMW Group Chairman Oliver Zipse at BMW’s driving center in Incheon to discuss further measures to facilitate collaboration, according to the Korean tech giant. It is the second time the two have met since Lee's business trip to Europe in July. &ld

Dec. 18, 2022

Airports eye travel rebound induced by K-culture boom next year

Piggybacking on the global popularity of Korean culture led by K-pop and K-dramas, Korea Airports Corporation said Thursday it is going all out to attract more international travelers next year. “Welcoming 2023 and 2024 as the Visit Korea Year, we plan to bring in as much as 8.5 million inbound travelers, 40 percent of the pre-pandemic level, by combining K-culture and tourism,” Korea Airports Corporation CEO Yoon Hyeong-jung said during a press conference at the company headquarte

Dec. 15, 2022

[From the Scene] Hyundai Motor seeks to provide best EV aftersales service

CHEONAN -- South Korea’s leading carmaker Hyundai Motor Group is looking to stay ahead in electric vehicle aftersales services as the company continues to ramp up the development and production of EVs amid the increasing demand for eco-friendly cars. Lee Tae-soo, vice president of Hyundai Motor’s Korean customer service division, pointed to how the country's growing EV market meant customers have come to expect more from them. Korean carmakers from January to October this year s

Dec. 15, 2022

LG-GM joint venture secures $2.5b from US to fund EV battery plants

Ultium Cells -- a joint venture between LG Energy Solution and General Motors -- has secured a $2.5 billion (3.27 trillion won) loan from the US Department of Energy to help finance the construction and expansion of three electric vehicle battery manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Tennessee and Michigan, officials said Tuesday. According to the Energy Department, the announcement marked the first finalized loan exclusively for a battery cell manufacturing project under the Biden Administration&rs

Dec. 13, 2022

Pre-pandemic level travel rebound yet to come: Incheon Airport CEO

Although the endemic phase is nearing, Incheon International Airport said Tuesday it will take another three years for South Korea's largest airport to recover the number of international passengers to pre-pandemic levels. “Due to the prolonged COVID-19 shutdowns from China and other countries, we expect the travel demand should rebound by 2025,” said Kim Kyung-wook, CEO of Incheon International Airport. “For next year, we predict international travelers will surge by 59

Dec. 13, 2022

Hyundai Motor to supply fuel-cell systems to Germany's Faun

Hyundai Motor Group said Monday it will supply a total of 1,100 hydrogen fuel-cell systems to Enginius, an eco-friendly car brand under the Germany-based Faun Group, in a three-year deal. It is the first time the South Korean carmaker has agreed to provide a massive amount of electric power systems. Under the deal, Hyundai’s 90-kilowatt hydrogen fuel-cell systems will power Enginius’ two brands -- Bluepower for garbage trucks and Citypower for cargo trucks whose market debuts are set

Dec. 12, 2022