Benz to recall 1,135 E-Class sedans for powertrain control defect

Mercedes-Benz Korea, the local unit of the German luxury car brand, will recall 1,135 units of E-class sedans for problems with their powertrain control system, the transportation ministry here said Thursday.An error in the model's powertrain software may fail to transmit engine power to the automatic transmission, causing a possible accident while driving, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.The problem has been detected in 1,135 E-Class sedans produced between Dec.

June 2, 2016

Hyundai, Kia see U.S. sales grow 6.3% in May on strong demands for SUVs

Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate, Kia Motors Corp., saw their combined sales in the United States rise 6.3 percent in May, thanks to brisk sales of sport utility vehicles, industry data showed Wednesday.The two South Korean auto giants sold a combined 133,932 units in the U.S. last month, up from 126,043 units sold in the same period last year, the data showed. The figures represented the best-ever sales for the month of May for both companies.Hyundai's sales rose 11.6 percent to 71,0

June 2, 2016

GM Korea raided over labor union corruption allegations

Prosecutors raided the headquarters of the South Korean unit of U.S. carmaker General Motors Co. on Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities committed by its labor union.The Incheon District Prosecutors' Office said it confiscated accounting books, documents and computer hard discs from GM Korea Co.'s headquarters located in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul.They also arrested a 57-year-old company executive in charge of labor management on suspicions of malpractice a

June 1, 2016

Auto sales up 6.4% in May on tax cut, robust overseas demand

The sales of five automakers in South Korea rose 6.4 percent in May from a year earlier on the back of an extended tax cut on car purchases that drove up domestic sales, and a recovery in overseas demand, industry data showed Wednesday. The combined sales of the five companies -- Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., GM Korea Co., Renault Samsung Motors Co., and Ssangyong Motor Co. -- came to 761,981 units in May, according to the data provided by each company. Domestic sales jumped 20 percent on

June 1, 2016

Prosecutors confiscate hundreds of Volkswagen vehicles

Prosecutors said Wednesday they have confiscated some 950 vehicles of the South Korean unit of the German carmaker Volkswagen, equipped with its new engine model, amid a probe into the company's emissions scandal.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said three of Audi Volkswagen Korea's models -- Audi A1, A3 and the popular Golf -- have been confiscated from its vehicle inspection center in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul.The legal action came two months after prosecutors

June 1, 2016

Eco-friendly soap sales soar due to Oxy fears

Sales of eco-friendly soaps are on the rise as consumers here continue to be wary of potentially harmful household supplies after the Oxy toxic humidifier disinfectant case, data showed Wednesday.According to data from online open market Auction, sales of natural and eco-friendly dishwashing soaps rose 74 percent in April and May compared to the previous year, reflecting growing demand from retailers and consumers over natural replacements for chemical soaps. A consumer browses natural cleaners

June 1, 2016

Eco-friendly, luxury cars to steal spotlight at Busan Int'l Motor Show

Environment-friendly and luxury vehicles will steal the spotlight during this year's Busan International Motor Show amid a lingering impact of Volkswagen AG's diesel emissions scandal on the markets, industry people said Wednesday. In the Busan International Motor Show, which opens from June 2-12 at BEXCO Auditorium in Busan, 453 kilometers south of Seoul, 25 domestic and international carmakers are set to exhibit 232 models, including 45 concept, upgraded and fully revamped cars, the biennial s

June 1, 2016

'Silent' green cars could be a risk to walkers: report

Hybrid or electric-powered cars could be much more dangerous to pedestrians than traditional vehicles because of their silence, a report said Wednesday.According to the report by Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co., walkers are 1.6 times more likely to be run over by a quiet hybrid or electric car than by one with a gas or diesel engine outside schools, in residential areas and on other back roads. (Yonhap)The accident rate for slow-moving hybrids on back roads was 5.5 percent, compared to 3.5 p

June 1, 2016

Kia Motors reports record sales in Latin America

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, posted record sales in Latin America this year, whose growth surpassed that of the Middle East and Eastern Europe, which are grappling with the economic slowdown, its report showed Tuesday. A total of 57,495 Kia cars were sold in Central and South American countries in the first four months of this year, surging 27.8 percent from a year ago, its investor relations report said. Its average monthly sales in the region first passed 10,000 in

May 31, 2016

Korea to export ‘samgyetang’ to China

South Korea will begin exporting its traditional ginseng chicken soup “samgyetang” to China from next month, as the two countries have reached an agreement on the trade deal, the Korean Agriculture Ministry said Sunday.The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said the two governments have concluded talks on related food regulations including those on quarantine and sanitation, making way for Korea to start exporting its chicken soup to China.A bowl of samgyetang (Yonhap)Once local chi

May 30, 2016

Ssangyong starts shipments of Rexton W SUVs to Peru

PYEONGTAEK, Gyeonggi Province -- About 400 Rexton W -- midsize sport utility vehicle of Ssangyong Motor -- lined up for shipment Monday to Peru’s capital at a pier of Pyeongtaek Port, Gyeonggi Province.  Officials from Ssangyong Motor, KOTRA and POSCO Daewoo celebrate the loading of the carmaker’s midsize Rexton SUV-based police cars to the ship heading for Lima, the capital city of Peru, at Pyeongtaek Port, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday. The shipment is part of the carmaker’s supply deal for the

May 30, 2016

Hyundai Motor beats rivals in registering U.S. clean energy patents in Q3

Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's top automotive group, acquired the largest number of patents on clean energy technology in the United States in the third quarter of 2015, the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index showed Monday. Among 916 clean energy patents registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in the July-September period, the combined patents by Hyundai Motor Co. and its company Kia Motors Corp. ranked top with 54, according to the index released by the Cleantech Group.Japan's To

May 30, 2016

Sales of hybrid cars jump on environmental concerns, new models

Sales of hybrid cars have fast risen in South Korea this year as the popularity of diesel vehicles is losing its spark due to the loss of consumer trust and rising concerns over air pollution, data showed Monday. Korean automakers sold a combined 14,173 hybrid cars in the first four months of the year, up 42.4 percent from a year ago, the Korea Automobile Manufacturers' Association said.A hybrid vehicle uses two or more distinct types of power, such as an internal combustion engine and an electr

May 30, 2016

[Busan Motor Show] 2016 Busan Motor Show to put 46 new cars center stage

The Korean auto industry is gearing up in Busan this week as the nation’s second biggest city will host the 2016 International Busan Motor Show at BEXCO from June 2 for a 10-day run.Under the slogan “Inspiring Technology Making Waves in the Future,” the biennial motor festival in Korea will showcase about 230 vehicles from 25 domestic and foreign brands, the motor show’s organizing committee said in a press release last week.Genesis G80 (world premiere)Visitors to the auto show will have a chanc

May 29, 2016

[Busan Motor Show] GM to host premiere night for new cars

The Korean unit of General Motors will host a premiere night to draw more attention to its new car lineup for the Busan Motor Show on June 1, one day before the official media preview.The carmaker has remained low-key on which cars will take the stage at the premiere event “GM night,” but industry watchers predict GM Korea CEO James Kim will highlight three models from its Chevrolet and Cadillac brands. Cadillac’s new CT6 full-size luxury sedan (GM)For the mass market, GM is forecast to unveil t

May 29, 2016

Sales of Korean-made products rise in duty-free shops

Sales of Korean-made products have risen in domestic duty-free shops to reach 40 percent of all sales, according to data from the Korea Customs Service on Sunday.Duty-free outlets in Korea saw revenues of 3.74 trillion won ($3.17 billion) in the first third of 2016, marking an 18.1 percent increase from the same period last year. Korean-made products were credited for 42.2 percent of those sales.Tourists shop for cosmetics at Shinsegae Duty Free in Myeong-dong. (Yonhap)The latest numbers show a

May 29, 2016

[Photo News] Lighting up the future in Africa

Officials from Hyundai Motor Group, World Vision and state-run international aid agency KOICA take part in a groundbreaking ceremony to build an auto mechanical training center in Ethiopia, Friday. The project is part of Kia Motors’ vocational education support program in Africa, dubbed the “Green Light Project.” Participants included World Vision’s Edward Brown (from left), KOICA head Kim In-shik, Ethiopian First Lady Roman Tesfaye, Hyundai Motor President Chung Jin-haeng and Kia Motors vice pr

May 29, 2016

[Busan Motor Show] BMW to unveil high-performance, hybrid vehicles

The Korean unit of German luxury carmaker BMW is set to unveil its five new models in Korea at the 2016 Busan International Motor Show slated to kick off on June 2, according to the automaker on Sunday. The automaker said it would showcase one flagship model 750Li Individual, two high-performance cars -- M2 Coupe and X4 M40i -- and two plug-in hybrid vehicles -- 330e M Sport and X5 xDrive40e -- at the upcoming biennial auto event. BMW M2 CoupeIts flagship 750Li Individual sedan is limited editio

May 29, 2016

[Busan Motor Show] Renault Samsung to showcase QM6, Twizy

Given the 2016 Busan Motor Show’s “smart premium” theme, Renault Samsung said Sunday that it would be showcasing three new vehicles at the event: the QM6, a revamped version of the QM5 sport utility vehicle, the Twizy electric smart car and the Renault Clio R.S. -- all of which are slated to be rolled out here in the second half of this year. “We are confident that the high-end QM6 SUV will wow visitors as it is the only fully modified SUV model among mass-produced car brands this year,” the com

May 29, 2016

Lotte Shopping suspended for false documents

The government on Friday ordered Lotte Shopping, a TV shopping channel under retail giant Lotte, to stop operating programs for six hours during prime time for six months, as part of a disciplinary measure for submitting false documents.The suspension is set to begin on Sept. 28, according to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, adding that the TV channel will be banned from broadcasting programs between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., and 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily. The decision came after Lotte

May 27, 2016