[Behind the Wheel] Mercedes-Benz aims to bolster SUV lineup with facelift GLC

  Mercedes-Benz has consistently commanded the top position in the South Korean imported vehicles market. Last year alone, it sold 78,133 units, led by its flagship sedan series E-Class. Compared to sedans, the German luxury automaker’s sport utility vehicles had taken a back seat. To expand its clout in the promising SUV sector, the automaker began bolstering its SUV lineup early this year, bringing back a facelifted version of the GLC compact SUV after four years. The GLC is on

Feb. 16, 2020

Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered trucks to hit the road in Korea by 2023

Hyundai Motor is set to introduce two hydrogen-powered trucks in South Korea by 2023 and add 10 more in the following year in collaboration with a local port authority, the automaker said Sunday. The carmaker said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority on Friday to lay the foundation for hydrogen mobility and to vitalize the hydrogen economy at Gwangyang Port in South Jeolla Province. The region is home to petrochemical complexes that produce hydrogen as

Feb. 16, 2020

17 Hyundai, Kia cars picked as safest in US crash test

A total of 17 Hyundai Motor Group car models received either Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety this year. The US awards recognize the safety of vehicles in crashes. According to South Korea’s leading carmaker, the Genesis G80, Genesis G70 and Nexo were named Top Safety Pick+, with the latter two recognized for their “good-rating” headlights for all trims. Top Safety Pick went to eight models from Hyundai Motor -- El

Feb. 14, 2020

Korean Air unionized workers warn against KCGI-Cho Hyun-ah coalition

Korean Air’s unionized workers on Friday warned against a coalition comprising a Korean Air heiress and activist fund Korea Corporate Governance Improvement.  In an apparent scheme to oust incumbent Chairman Cho Won-tae, former Korean Air Vice President Cho Hyun-ah and Hanjin Group’s largest and third-largest shareholders -- KCGI and Bando Construction -- said Thursday they are proposing eight figures, including former SK Group Vice Chairman Kim Shin-bae, as candidates for boar

Feb. 14, 2020

KLM apologizes after being accused of coronavirus racism

The Netherlands’ flag carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines apologized Friday for banning South Koreans from using a restroom on a plane amid coronavirus concerns.  According to a Korean passenger onboard the KLM 855 flight bound for Incheon from Amsterdam on Monday, a hand-written note that read “cabin crew exclusive restroom” in Korean was posted on the door of a restroom. Koreans made up 135 out of 279 passengers on the plane.  When a passenger asked why the note wa

Feb. 14, 2020

Auto exports down for 6th month on strike, fewer working days

South Korea's exports of cars nose-dived 28.1 percent on-year in January, extending their slump for the sixth consecutive month due to a strike by Kia Motors Corp. and fewer working days, data showed Friday. South Korean carmakers shipped 150,974 units of cars overseas last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In terms of value, auto exports also fell 22.2 percent over the period to $2.85 billion. The country's outbound shipments of cars have be

Feb. 14, 2020

Korea’s aviation industry faces severe turbulence

South Korean air carriers have been facing a tough time following the nationwide boycott of trips to Japan last year and the oil price hike, only to face a triple whammy with the novel coronavirus outbreak, forcing them to suspend almost 90 percent of their lucrative China routes.  According to industry sources, air carriers have been making all-out efforts to secure capital amid the dwindling number of passengers and continued business uncertainties led by external factors.  The co

Feb. 13, 2020

Genesis replaces Lexus as most reliable auto brand in US

Hyundai Motor’s premium brand Genesis ranked No. 1 in overall vehicle dependability among all brands in the US, industry data showed Thursday. According to the “Vehicle Dependability Study” announced by annual ranking researcher J.D. Power, Genesis ranked the highest with the score of 89 problems per 100 vehicles in its first year of eligibility. The study measured the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of

Feb. 13, 2020

Hyundai Motor Group to adopt e-voting system at all subsidiaries

All of Hyundai Motor Group’s listed subsidiaries will introduce an electronic voting system, with the aim of shareholder friendly management, the group said Wednesday. Until last year, Hyundai Glovis, Hyundai Bng Steel and Hyundai Motor Securities had preemptively introduced the e-voting system to allow wider participation from shareholders. This year, the remaining nine listed subsidiaries decided to adopt the electronic voting. The units are Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, Hyundai Ste

Feb. 12, 2020

Mercedes-Benz launches first A-Class sedan in Korea

Mercedes-Benz Korea on Wednesday began sales of the first sedan in its A-Class lineup -- unveiled during the Paris Motor Show in 2018 -- and also launched its second-generation premium coupe sedan, the new CLA 250 4matic.  Until now, the automaker sold only hatchback A-Class models, and said it has introduced the first sedan model to the lineup to expand its premium sedan range, which comprises C-Class, E-Class, CLS and S-Class.  The new A-Class lineup includes two models -- A 220 s

Feb. 12, 2020

Hyundai joins hands with startup Canoo on electric vehicles

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday it has signed a deal with US electric vehicle startup Canoo to develop an electric vehicle platform for its upcoming models. Hyundai said it expects the new platform using Canoo's scalable skateboard architecture to allow for a simplified and standardized development process, which in turn would lower the prices of vehicles made by its two flagship units -- Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. Canoo's proprietary skateboard architec

Feb. 12, 2020

GM Korea to partially halt assembly line over parts shortages

GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., said Wednesday that it will temporarily suspend one of three domestic car assembly plants due to shortages of Chinese parts amid the spreading coronavirus outbreak. GM Korea is set to close its main Bupyeong plant in Incheon, just west of Seoul, on Feb. 17 and 18 due to shortages of Chinese parts, including wiring harnesses, a key component for a variety of models, a company official said. The move would disrupt the production of the

Feb. 12, 2020

Jeju Air logs operating loss in 2019

  Jeju Air, the country’s largest low-cost carrier by sales, said it recorded 1.38 trillion won ($1.1 billion) in sales last year, along with 32.9 billion won in operating loss and 34.1 billion won of net loss.  The air carrier said its 2019 sales improved by 9.9 percent, but the operating profit and yearly net profit both turned into the red. In the fourth quarter last year, its sales came to 309.4 billion won, also recording an operating loss at 45.1 billion won and net loss

Feb. 11, 2020

Hyundai Motor, US Energy Department join hands for hydrogen fuel cell tech

Hyundai Motor Group said Tuesday it has joined hands with the US Department of Energy to expand the use of hydrogen fuel cell technology globally and innovate further.  The company said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the department in Washington, DC. Hyundai Motor Group’s Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun met with US Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes to exchange their vision and direction for the future hydrogen society, the company added.  “We ex

Feb. 11, 2020

Carmakers partially restart production following resumption in China

Carmakers in South Korea said Tuesday they have partially resumed vehicle production that was halted due to parts shortages caused by the new coronavirus outbreak, on resumed supply of parts from China. Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp., the country's two biggest carmakers, said they restarted production at their domestic plants Tuesday, mainly using auto components shipped from Southeast Asia. "Some parts from Southeast Asia arrived at the plants Monday and our South

Feb. 11, 2020

Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors plants to resume operation from Tuesday

Manufacturing plants of the country’s two largest automakers, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, which had been suspended due to disruption of parts supplies will resume operation from Tuesday, industry sources said Monday. The resumption follows delivery of Chinese-made wiring harnesses, a crucial auto part laid on the floor of the vehicles during initial assembly. A portion was set to arrive here Monday via flights and vessels from Qingdao and Weihai, according to a Hyundai Motor official.&n

Feb. 10, 2020

Hyundai Motor heir meets US governors, discusses future of hydrogen, mobility

Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday its Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun met with state governors in the US during a summit where he exchanged his thoughts on the future of hydrogen economy and mobility innovation.  The National Governors Association Winter Summit is held twice a year, inviting governors of 50 states and five self-governing dominions, where major business and political leaders gather to exchange issues and policies.  Chung offered a toast during the reception for th

Feb. 9, 2020

SsangYong suffers biggest operating loss in decade since 2009

SsangYong Motors’ balance sheet went from bad to worse in 2019, due to a sharp fall in exports. The automaker said Friday its operating losses skyrocketed to 281.9 billion won ($237.4 million), a whopping 339.3 percent increase from 64.2 billion won a year earlier, and taking its run of losses to 12 consecutive quarters. The figure is the worst since 2009, when the company saw a loss of 295 billion won in the aftermath of global financial crisis. Despite a minor 2.2 percent dip in r

Feb. 7, 2020

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo inducted into Automotive Hall of Fame

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo will be the first Korean to be inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, the automaker said Thursday. The 2020 induction ceremony will be held in Detroit at the MGM Grand Ballroom on July 23. Established in 1939, the organization has honored some 800 business leaders around the world who have created, shaped and changed the mobility market. Past inductees include Ford founder Henry Ford, inventor Thomas Edison, founder of Mercedes-Benz Karl Be

Feb. 7, 2020

Hyundai suspends all assembly lines over parts shortages

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker by sales, on Friday suspended all of its domestic car assembly plants due to a lack of parts from China amid the spreading coronavirus outbreak, with other local automakers set to halt production lines or considering doing so. Hyundai Motor plans to halt its assembly plants by Monday, while its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. is planning to bring all of its local assembly lines to a halt Monday.   Hyundai and Kia began to reduce output a

Feb. 7, 2020