Kia Soul, Hyundai i30 remain best-selling models despite weak popularity at home

The Kia Soul continued to remained one of the best-selling cars made by South Korea's No. 2 automaker in overseas markets last year, despite its dwindling popularity at home, industry data showed Monday.In 2016, 168,159 units of the car were shipped overseas, more than 70 times higher than 2,359 units sold here, according to the data released earlier from Kia Motors Corp. The Kia Soul EV crossover (Kia Motors)The Soul is a crossover multipurpose vehicle, and is better known as a box car. The car

March 6, 2017

[Herald Interview] Jeju expo to promote EV mass market, seek diversity

Despite the overflowing expectation on electric vehicles, often lauded as the future of the auto industry, the actual market for zero emission cars has been growing at a very slow pace.The portion of EVs around the world accounts for 0.01 percent of the total. But Kim Dae-hwan, chairman of the International Electric Vehicle Expo, believes that a significant change in the industry may happen this year, starting from an unlikely place -- the South Korean resort island of Jeju. Kim Dae-hwan, chairm

March 5, 2017

Experts call for practical solutions to expand eco-friendly cars

South Korea’s government is spurring investments to foster eco-friendly cars, with its latest plan announced last week to build 200 more charging stations for green cars on expressways nationwide until 2025.　The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport shared plans to construct charging stations for hydrogen-powered cars, electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Eco-friendly cars will also receive a 50 percent reduction on highway tolls until theys become common here.　A detailed business pla

March 5, 2017

[News Focus] Can Tesla still draw drivers despite lack of subsidies?

With American electric car giant Tesla preparing to open its first showrooms in Korea next week, industry officials are left speculating whether the company’s high prices and lack of government subsidies will still allow the company to make a big splash in the local eco-car market. 　The first model set to hit the local streets will be Tesla’s luxury Model S 90D, with a starting price of 121 million won ($105,000). However, despite the higher price tag compared to competing electric vehicles curr

March 5, 2017

Gwangju begins Korea's first hydrogen car sharing program

The southern city of Gwangju will launch South Korea's first hydrogen car sharing program, the government said Sunday.The environment ministry said the city 329 kilometers south of Seoul has been tapped as a testbed for the car-sharing endeavor, aimed at improving public awareness of the eco-friendly vehicles. The car sharing industry -- short-term, automated car rental services -- has grown quickly in South Korea on the back of the widespread usage of smartphones. (Yonhap file photo)An official

March 5, 2017

Sales of autonomous cars expected to hit 20 mln worldwide in 2035: report

Worldwide sales of autonomous cars are forecast to reach 20 million units by the year of 2035 on the back of rapid development of related technologies, a report said Sunday."The smart car market will expand to a large extent as self-driving cars are expected to hit the road around 2020," said the report released by the state-funded Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade. Google’s self-driving vehicle. (Yonhap)It said the autonomous car industry will expand sharply in the coming years

March 5, 2017

Local auto industry braces itself for storm

Dark clouds are hanging over the local auto industry due to weakened conditions in and outside of the country, despite local automakers’ increased on-year global sales for February and aggressive marketing strategies to maximize demand at home.According to figures presented by five local automakers -- Hyundai and Kia Motors, GM Korea, SsangYong Motor and Renault Samsung Motors -- they sold a combined 618,930 units in the local and global markets last month, up 2.5 percent on-year.Experts attribu

March 3, 2017

Korean carmakers' sales grow 2.5% in Feb.

Global sales of South Korea-based automakers grew from a year earlier last month with sales growing both at home and abroad, the companies said Thursday.In February, combined global sales of the five automakers here came to 645,932 cars, up 2.5 percent from 629,881 cars sold in the same month last year, accordig to data released by the companies.  (Yonhap)Led by market leader Hyundai Motor Co., the five carmakers sold a combined 119,612 vehicles in the local market, up 8.1 percent from a year ea

March 2, 2017

Hyundai Motor sales grow 1.5% on-year in Feb

South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. said Thursday its global sales gained 1.5 percent from a year earlier in February, helped by a sharp rise in domestic sales.The automaker sold 341,345 cars globally in February, compared to 336,200 cars sold in the same month last year, the company said in a regulatory filing. Hyundai Motor's Grandeur Gasoline 3.3 sedan released on March 2, 2017. (Hyundai Motor)Domestic sales jumped 8.7 percent on-year to 53,113 cars, while overseas sales inched up 0

March 2, 2017

Kia Motors Feb. sales up 2.1%

Global sales of South Korea's No. 2 automaker Kia Motors Corp. grew 2.1 percent from a year earlier in February, largely helped by a rise in overseas sales, the company said Thursday.Global sales came to 227,823 cars last month, compared to 223,175 cars sold globally in February 2016, the company said in a regulatory filing. (Yonhap)Domestic sales inched up 0.1 percent on-year to 39,158 units, while overseas sales gained 2.5 percent to 188,665 cars.The automaker said its sales in advanced market

March 2, 2017

VW appeals emissions fraud fines

Volkswagen Korea is appealing the South Korean watchdog’s decision to slap it with 37.3 billion won ($32.7 million) in fines and a correction order for false advertising related to its diesel emissions scandal. 　Volkswagen filed an administrative suit with the Seoul High Court on Feb. 23 against the FTC’s ruling, which was imposed late last year. It did not file an injunction, the court said Wednesday.　The company reportedly claims that the watchdog’s fine and correction order are unfair.　The co

March 2, 2017

Ssangyong Motor sales grow 2.3% on-year in Feb.

Ssangyong Motor Co. said Thursday its global sales continued to grow from a year earlier last month on a sharp increase in domestic sales that more than offset a sharp drop in exports.The South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said its overall sales came to 10,816 cars in February, up 2.3 percent from the same month last year. The Ssangyong Tivoli SUV (Ssangyong Motor)Domestic sales spiked 16.1 percent on-year to 8,106 cars, while outbound shipments plunged 24.6 percent to

March 2, 2017

GM Korea sales expand 1.7% on-year in Feb.

Global sales of GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of US automaker General Motors Co., gained slightly from a year earlier last month on increased exports, the company said Thursday.In February, the South Korea-based automaker globally sold 45,366 cars, up 1.7 percent from the same month last year.(Yonhap)Domestic sales slipped 1.7 percent on-year to 11,227 cars, but exports gained 2.8 percent to 34,139 units, more than offsetting the drop in local sales.However, in the first two months of the

March 2, 2017

Hyundai, Kia see US sales drop nearly 7% in Feb.

Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate, Kia Motors Corp., saw their combined sales in the United States drop nearly 7 percent in February as Kia's sales slumped, industry data showed Wednesday.The two South Korean auto giants sold a combined 95,693 units in the US last month, down 6.9 percent from the same period last year, the data showed.  (Yonhap)Hyundai's sales remained flat at 53,020 units, compared with last year's 53,009, but Kia's took a 14.2 percent dive to 42,673 units from last y

March 2, 2017

GM Korea delays Chevy Cruze deliveries to March on possible defect

GM Korea Co. said Tuesday that it has decided to postpone deliveries of the all-new Chevrolet Cruze compact car due to possible problems.The South Korean unit of US carmaker General Motors Co. said it will likely be delivering the new car to South Korean customers in March after making sure its latest products are "flawless.""GM Korea is pushing back the start of deliveries for the all-new Cruze to March based on the policy of its highest leaders to deliver vehicles after securing flawless quali

Feb. 28, 2017

Hyundai launches new Ioniq plug-in green car

Hyundai Motor on Monday launched its new Ioniq plug-in, the last of the three-series green car Ioniq models.　Hyundai‘s Ioniq lineup now features three eco-friendly car options -- the hybrid, electric and its latest plug-in, which merges the key functions of the hybrid and electric functions into one. Using both an internal combustion engine and rechargeable batteries, the new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle model offers fuel efficiency of roughly 20.5 kilometers per liter and a driving range of

Feb. 27, 2017

Ssangyong Motor to locally produce vehicles in Saudi Arabia from 2020

Ssangyong Motor said Monday it signed a licensing contract for auto parts with a Saudi firm that would allow it to locally manufacture vehicles in Saudi Arabia from 2020.With the agreement signed Saturday in Seoul, Ssangyong would provide technological assistance to Saudi National Automobile Manufacturing Co.  in building an auto production factory, localizing car parts and training technicians, the company said. (Yonhap)Ssangyong Motor is a local unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Feb. 27, 2017

[Behind the Wheel] New Ford Kuga SUV good, but not great

　Ford Korea recently released its latest SUV model, the 2017 Ford Kuga. And while the compact SUV is a perfectly decent vehicle, it nevertheless lacks that special factor that makes shelling out nearly 40 million won ($35,300) seem like a worthwhile decision.　Earlier this month, members of the media were given the opportunity to take the new Ford Kuga out for a spin on the winding, multi-terrain streets and back-alleys of Paju, Gyeonggi Province. 　The 2017 Kuga offers a more spacious interior an

Feb. 26, 2017

[Photo News] BMW on top floor

(BMW Korea)BMW Korea employees put together a complete model of the German luxury’s new BMW 5 Series that had been disassembled into some 250,000 pieces for it to be placed at the top 39th floor of the Parnas Tower in southern Seoul for a launch event that began Thursday and runs until Mar. 12. The entire disassembling and reassembling process can be seen on BMW Korea’s YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3noCuz-gNc  (BMW Korea)(khnews@heraldcorp.com)

Feb. 24, 2017

Court holds first hearing on compensation suit against Volkswagen

A Seoul court on Friday held the first hearing on a compensation suit filed by hundreds of South Korean customers against German carmaker Volkswagen over vehicles with manipulated emissions data.During the hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court, a total of 259 plaintiffs demanded the cancellation of their purchases and full refunds. This file photo taken on June 1, 2016, shows Audi Volkswagen Korea's pre-delivery inspection center in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yon

Feb. 24, 2017