Hyundai Mobis develops brainwave detector for drivers to prevent drowsy driving

Hyundai Mobis developed a brainwave detection device to alert motor vehicle operators against drowsy driving or sudden health issues, the auto parts developer said Wednesday. According to Hyundai Mobis, it completed development of M.Brain, a brainwave measuring technology that monitors and analyzes the driver’s brainwaves in real time, with earpiece sensors. While health care technologies measuring various biosignals are being developed by many others in the automotive industry, Hyund

July 21, 2021

Renault Samsung Motors’ Mobilize offers convenient traveling for subscribers

As the subscription economy is expanding its scope into the automotive industry, Renault Samsung Motors’ Mobilize offers easy traveling for those planning to embark on a summer break, the automaker said Tuesday. Unlike other car rental programs, Mobilize, which is Renault Samsung’s monthly car subscription service, does not charge by mileage, and comes without an early termination fee, the automaker said. Renault Samsung said Mobilize subscribers can use its major vehicle lineup

July 20, 2021

Korean Air explores satellite launches from planes

Korean Air said Tuesday it recently began a joint research project with Seoul National University, backed by the Republic of Korea Air Force, to explore the possibility of using large commercial aircraft for air launching. As part of the project, the South Korean national carrier will analyze the current technological capabilities, how to apply core technologies to the project, annual operating costs, and aircraft modification in order to develop an air-launch system with the Boeing 747-400.

July 20, 2021

Budget carriers scurrying to raise funds amid extended pandemic

South Korea's low-cost carriers are planning to raise funds through a capital increase to ride out the prolonged coronavirus pandemic and put them in a better financial position, industry sources said Monday. Budget carriers have suffered the most since early last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have been struggling to raise their capital bases as business performance does not show signs of improvement in the face of the prolonged pandemic. Jeju Air Co., the country's biggest budget carr

July 19, 2021

Renault Samsung suspends plant on chip shortage

Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Monday it has temporarily suspended its sole plant due to parts shortages. Renault Samsung will halt the Busan plant, 453 kilometers south of Seoul, from Monday to Tuesday due to lack of semiconductor parts, a company spokesman said. It is the first time for Renault Samsung to suspend the plant on a global chip shortage. In May, the company temporarily closed the plant, as its union continued strikes for a wage hike for

July 19, 2021

Hyundai, Kia's Jan.-May eco-friendly car exports jump 45%

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Corp.'s environment friendly vehicle exports jumped 45 percent in the January-May period from a year earlier on strong demand for their hybrid sport utility vehicles. Hyundai and Kia shipped a combined 145,781 eco-friendly vehicles in the first five months, up from 100,691 units in the year-ago period, according to data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA). Increased overseas sales of hybrid models based on Hyundai's Santa Fe and Tu

July 19, 2021

Jeep pledges to bring 1 electric vehicle every year to S. Korea

Starting with the Wrangler 4xe, Jeep will bring at least one electrified vehicle annually in South Korea from this year onward, the brand’s chief executive officer said, expressing determination to meet their goal for a carbon-free future. Holding a media roundtable Wednesday, Christian Meunier touted the auto company’s record sales in four countries -- South Korea, Japan, Australia and India -- and said it plans to introduce more electrified vehicles into the markets. The press e

July 17, 2021

Asiana Airlines shares resume trading

Asiana Airlines shares resumed trading on Friday, nearly two months after the airline and its affiliates’ shares were suspended following criminal charges surrounding former management in late May. The airline’s stock price briefly soared to 21,450 won during Friday trading before dropping to 18,600 won later in the day. The Korea Exchange’s decision to temporarily suspend the airline’s stocks came after the arrest of former Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo on s

July 16, 2021

Budget carrier Air Premia wins govt. approval for operations

Budget carrier Air Premia Co. has obtained government approval for its operations amid the extended COVID-19 pandemic, the transport ministry said Friday. The ministry issued an air operator certificate (AOC) to Air Premia to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. "Air Premia needs to report its routes to the aviation authority before it begins flight services," a ministry official said. Air Premia plans to start services on mid-and long-haul routes initially with a 309

July 16, 2021

Stellantis to bring 6 EVs to S. Korea by 2026

Multinational carmaker Stellantis Group said Friday it will bring six electrified models to South Korea by 2026 as it aims to get a share of the emerging local EV market.   Stellantis is a 50:50 joint venture recently set up through the merger of U.S. carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and French automaker PSA Groupe.  This year, Stellantis plans to introduce the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in the Korean market and five other electrified models in the nex

July 16, 2021

Auto exports surge 28% in H1 on global economic recovery

South Korea's exports of automobiles advanced 28 percent in the first half of 2021 on the back of the global economic recovery and rising demand for premium models, data showed Thursday. Outbound shipments of automobiles reached 1,049,658 units in the January-June period, rising from 820,873 units tallied a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In terms of value, exports also shot up 50 percent to hit $23.6 billion. It marked the first tim

July 15, 2021

Hyundai Motor unveils Avante N, instills motorsports spirit in daily driving

Hyundai Motor unveiled its high-performance Avante N on Wednesday, expanding its N product lineup to present how the motorsports experience can be enjoyed in daily driving. The Avante N has been redesigned from the entry-level sedan Avante, released in April 2020, to a sports car that can be used in daily commutes and travels. Introduced under the name Elantra N for the global market, the new vehicle made its debut on the global stage in a YouTube video uploaded Wednesday morning, showing of

July 14, 2021

Hyundai to resume production at Brazil plant this week

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker by sales, said Tuesday it will resume operations of its plant in Brazil this week following a 10-day suspension amid a global chip shortage. Early this month, Hyundai said it will halt the Piracicaba, Sao Paulo plant from July 5-14 due to lack of semiconductor parts.     "The plant will partially resume production on July 15 with one shift despite the parts shortage (after reducing output by one-third late last month).

July 13, 2021

Hyundai, Kia expected to log sharp rebound in Q2 earnings

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Corp. are set to report a sharp rebound in operating profit for the second quarter on strong demand for their vehicles that offset output disruptions by semiconductor shortages, analysts said Tuesday. Hyundai and Kia, which together form the world's fifth-biggest carmaker by sales, are expected to have posted operating profits of 1.86 trillion won ($1.6 billion) and 1.34 trillion won, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, according to a median for

July 13, 2021

[Behind the wheel] BMW’s New Mini both practical and powerful

South Korea has been known as a tough market to crack for global compact car brands. But that’s not the case for BMW Group’s Mini. Since its debut in Korea in 2005, the premium compact car brand under BMW has posted steady growth rates each year. In 2019, sales volume hit 10,000 units -- a major milestone for foreign car brands here. Last year, the figure grew more than 10 percent from the previous year. Its latest lineup -- the New Mini Family -- consists of three models, the

July 12, 2021

Korean Air’s plan for integrated airline with Asiana to cost W600b

Korean Air’s plan to launch an integrated airline after acquiring its long-term rival Asiana Airlines will cost an additional 600 billion won ($524 million), new data revealed on Sunday. According to data obtained by lawmaker Park Sang-hyuk, the airline will have to foot a total bill of around 2.4 trillion won for the acquisition and the post-merger integration process, which will take place over a period of two years. The plan will see Korean Air integrate its booking and ticketing sys

July 11, 2021

Foreign pilots allege mistreatment by Korean Air during pandemic

Foreign pilots have accused Korean Air of mistreating them ever since the pandemic began early last year and forcing them to leave their belongings behind in South Korea. A former B777 captain at the airline, who wished to stay anonymous, told The Korea Herald he had been placed on unpaid leave for the last 16 months and kept in the dark about his future, while his Korean colleagues had been given the choice to go on paid leave. “They obliged us, in the real sense of the word, to sign th

July 11, 2021

SsangYong Motor to sell plant site in rehabilitation efforts

SsangYong Motor, a debt-ridden automaker, decided to sell the site of its plant in Pyeongtaek as part of self-rescue efforts, the local government said Saturday.    The company has been under court receivership since April, as its Indian parent, Mahindra & Mahindra, failed to secure a buyer for its 75 percent stake in the automaker.    The city government of Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the court-appoin

July 10, 2021

[Behind the Wheel] Genesis poised to take on EV world with G80

Genesis, the luxury brand of South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor, has debuted its first pure-electric car, aiming to take on the emerging electric vehicle mart with high-end models. With the Electrified G80, unveiled in South Korean on Wednesday, Hyundai Motor has aimed to prove that it can offer the gentle yet powerful ride of a premium sedan with electricity. On its launch day, The Korea Herald took the much-anticipated car for a test drive of about 60 kilometers, from Starfie

July 9, 2021

Hyundai Motor forges partnership to develop hydrogen fuel cell system for ships

Hyundai Motor will work with other firms to utilize its car-making expertise and technology for the development of a hydrogen fuel cell system for ships, the Korean automaker said Thursday. Hyundai Motor has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Global Service and the Korean Register of Shipping, a non-profit ship classification body, to jointly develop an FC system package for ships using the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell that is used in cars. The partnership also aims

July 8, 2021