Renault Samsung Motors sets target sales at 270,000 units

Park Dong-hoon, a CEO of Renault Samsung Motors, speaks at a new year‘s media conference held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. (Renault Samsung Motors)Park Dong-hoon, the CEO of Renault Samsung Motors, announced Wednesday the firm’s goal for 2017 to sell 270,000 units on its continued sales momentum of the SM6 sedan, QM6 SUV and two new models set for launch this year.“We have two new models scheduled for launch this year, the Clio and the Twizzy. We hope to suggest a new

Jan. 18, 2017

Honda joins Korea’s growing eco-car market

Honda Motor Company has unveiled the latest model to hit Korea’s burgeoning green car market -- the new Accord Hybrid. 　The major Japanese automaker released its popular Accord series for the first time in Korea on Wednesday, looking to increase its presence in the competitive local market with its latest eco-friendly sedan. 　“Last year Honda Korea sold 6,636 vehicles in the Korean market,” said Jung Woo-young, CEO of Honda Korea, at a press conference held at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Seoul on W

Jan. 18, 2017

Kia Motors launches new compact car

Kia Motors, South Korea’s second-largest auto manufacturer, launched the third-generation Smart Compact All New Morning at a media showcase Tuesday. Kia Motors President Park Han-woo (right) and Executive Vice President Kim Chang-sik pose at the launch of the Smart Compact All New Morning at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, central Seoul, Tuesday. (Kia Motors)According to Kia Motors, it developed the latest model with the aim of producing a compact car that has enhanced safety with a stronger body struc

Jan. 17, 2017

US authorities warn Hyundai, Kia Motors over worker safety

The US labor authorities have voiced concerns over excessive production demands made by South Korea’s biggest automaker Hyundai and its affiliate Kia Motors to their subcontractors at the expense of employee safety.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the US Labor Ministry recently stated that the safety issues at Ajin USA, a subcontractor of Hyundai and Kia Motors, are not exclusive to Ajin, according to news reports here Monday.The Ajin USA plant in Alabama supplies stamp metal

Jan. 16, 2017

Mercedes-Benz Korea to unveil six new models this year

After achieving record growth last year, Mercedes-Benz Korea has announced plans to introduce six new vehicle models this year, as well as its latest smartphone customer service platform. 　The local distributor of the luxury German car brand achieved double-digit growth here in 2016, selling 56,343 units -- a 19.9 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association.　During a press conference at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on Monday mornin

Jan. 16, 2017

[AUTOMODE] Zooming in on the Detroit auto show

Leading global automakers began the new year at the annual North American International Auto Show, where groundbreaking innovative automobiles and related technologies made their debuts. The Detroit auto show offers an outline of this year’s auto trends. “Self-driving and cutting-edge technologies are a hot topic at the auto show. Automakers are trying to differentiate their models by pushing forward unique technologies,” said Kim Pil-soo, a professor of automotive engineering at Daelim Universi

Jan. 15, 2017

Kia treads into familiar, yet tough territory of female-specific cars

　Kia Motors is set to launch its latest Smart Compact All New Morning lineup Tuesday, including a special model geared toward women -- a strategy that other automakers have tried in the past, and mostly failed. 　Along with a sleek new design and smart technology upgrades, the new third generation line of its Morning compact car series will feature a brand new option -- the “Lady Edition.” 　Targeted at Kia’s growing number of female consumers, the new Lady version is looking to unveil a vehicle t

Jan. 15, 2017

Hyundai ranks 1st in Chilean car market

South Korea's Hyundai Motor's has emerged as the best-selling car brand in Chile, outpacing Chevrolet, local data showed Sunday.Hyundai sold a total of 31,398 automobiles last year, more than the 28,886 recorded by the US carmaker, according to the data from Chile's auto association ANAC. An image of cars made by Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors (Yonhap)Hyundai's sales marked a 22.2 percent surge from the 25,700 posted in 2015.The performance was spurred by the local debut of new models, such as the

Jan. 15, 2017

VW to begin emissions fraud vehicle recall next month

The Korean government said Thursday that is has approved Volkswagen’s first set of recall plans for 27,000 Tiguan SUVs sold with faked emissions tests. 　The recall is set to begin on Feb. 6. 　The decision follows the indictment of seven former and current staff at Audi Volkswagen Korea, including the Korean unit chief Johannes Thammer.　“We will send out letters explaining the recall procedures and schedules to all the customers of the targeted vehicles starting on Jan. 24,” the company said in a

Jan. 12, 2017

Mercedes-Benz Korea to hike prices next month

Starting Feb. 1, Mercedes-Benz customers in Korea are going to encounter slightly higher prices, according to the local branch of the German automaker Wednesday. 　“The change in price will be a minimum of a 0.4 percent increase, with a maximum increase of 1.2 percent (average of 0.8 percent),” said a representative of Mercedes-Benz Korea in a press statement. “The reasons for the increase is due to the rising costs of logistics, raw material prices, inflation as well as upgraded product specific

Jan. 12, 2017

Hyundai to recall Tucson SUVs in Korea, China

Hyundai Motor is preparing to initiate a recall of its Tucson sport utility vehicles in Korea and China, due to faulty rear trailing arms, according to the automaker and the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on Tuesday.  (Hyundai)The decision follows South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s report on Dec. 28 that the strength of the new Tucson model’s trailing arm suspension was weak and could lead to further complications.The

Jan. 11, 2017

Chevy Bolt named N. America Car of the Year

General Motors' Chevrolet Bolt has been named North America’s Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, beating out two luxury sedans -- the Genesis G90 and the Volvo S90 -- the company said Tuesday. The long-range electric is the first US-made, mass-market and fully-electric car. Not to be confused with the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in car with a backup gas engine, the Bolt is purely electric. (Chevrolet)The vehicle's starting price is roughly half that of

Jan. 10, 2017

Mercedes-Benz premieres new E-Class Coupe at Detroit show

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its sleek new E-Class Coupe for the first time at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, the company said Tuesday.  　The 2018 model of the two-door luxury Coupe is 123 millimeters longer and 74 millimeters wider than its predecessor, and is equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission. According to the German carmaker, the new coupe can reach speeds of up to 209 kilometers per hour. 　Featuring all-new architecture and upgraded electronic

Jan. 10, 2017

Detroit show highlights mid-sized sedans, SUVs

Midsized sedans and sports utility vehicles are the talk of the town at the international auto show that kicked off Sunday in Detroit, Michigan, the hub of the US auto industry.The annual North American International Auto Show showcases industry trends led by global carmakers and their latest technology, through introductions of their new models and industry-shaping plans.Some 30 leading auto firms are to roll out 40 new models and exhibit 750 at the Detroit auto show running until Jan. 22.　“Sed

Jan. 9, 2017

Tesla’s official launch in Seoul imminent, unswayed by Korean celeb accident

Tesla Motors has reaffirmed its planned launch in Seoul, stressing that the recent case of a South Korean celebrity claiming serious defects in its car would not affect its plans, an industry source told The Korea Herald.An official closely related to the US electric vehicle maker said the launch is “imminent” and will be carried out within the beginning of the year. Tesla was to open its first flagship showroom at Starfield Hanam Mall in Gyeonggi Province by Nov. 28, 2016, but the plan had been

Jan. 8, 2017

[EYE] Customer service at heart of Mercedes-Benz’s success in Korea

It wasn’t an easy start. Soon after being stationed in Seoul in 2015, Dimitris Psillakis, the CEO and president of Mercedes-Benz Korea, took to the parliamentary stand and apologized for causing public concern over a case that involved an angry Korean driver smashing an S-class sedan with a golf club. Dimitris Psillakis, the CEO and president of Mercedes-Benz Korea (Mercedes-Benz Korea)Things could have gone worse, further damaging the reputation that the German carmaker had been building for ye

Jan. 6, 2017

GM Korea to release Bolt EV in April

GM Korea, the Korean unit of US auto firm General Motors, will launch its first fully electric vehicle Chevrolet Bolt in April, an industry source told The Korea Herald on Thursday, quoting a GM official in Seoul. GM Bolt EVThe US auto giant unveiled the Bolt EV in Korea for the first time in October, but had not disclosed an exact release date, saying the launch would take place within the first half of 2017. The electric compact car went on sale in December in the US.The Bolt EV's planned laun

Jan. 5, 2017

Tesla deliveries miss forecasts again on production delays

Tesla Motors Inc. reported fourth-quarter deliveries that fell short of its own forecasts, sending shares lower in after-market trading, as production delays continue to plague the carmaker led by Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.The Palo Alto, California-based maker of electric cars and energy-storage products delivered about 22,200 vehicles in the final three months of last year, according to a statement Tuesday. The total trailed the automaker’s projection for 25,000 units and brought its fu

Jan. 4, 2017

Kia set to unveil new generation of Morning compact cars

Kia Motors is gearing up to unveil its latest Smart Compact All New Morning cars, the new third generation line of its Morning compact car series, the company said Wednesday.　The new line marks the first new edition of Kia’s compact series in six years. It will be available to the public starting Jan. 17. 　Emphasizing a sleek new design, color palate and smart internet technology features, the new Kia Morning series couples practicality with lifestyle and comfort, the company said. An exterior v

Jan. 4, 2017

Hyundai Motor Group delivers W25b donation

Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday held a ceremony to offer a donation of 25 billion won ($21 million) for people in need at the Community Chest of Korea building in Seoul, with the attendance of Hyundai Motor President Chung Jin-haeng and Community Chest of Korea Chairman Huh Dong-soo.With this year’s donation, accumulated funds contributed to CCK have reached 209 billion won over the past 14 years, the company said.The donations are used to provide traffic safety education for seniors and other a

Dec. 29, 2016