Kia to again suspend US plant over chip shortage

Kia Corp., South Korea's No. 2 carmaker, plans to suspend its factory in the United States for two days later this week due to a semiconductor shortage, company officials said Monday. Kia plans to idle its assembly line in Georgia from Thursday to Friday over a chip shortage, following its two-day factory suspension last month, they said. The Georgia plant, which produces the Telluride, Sorento SUV and K5 sedan, rolled out 70,600 units in the first three months of this year. Kia halted produc

May 24, 2021

[Behind the Wheel] Limited-edition Maserati Levante S made more luxurious with Italian leather

What completes a perfect ride relies not only on the car’s driving performance, but also how it instills a sense of self-worth and pride in the driver, people here often say. Luxury Italian automaker Maserati’s sport utility vehicle Levante S ticks all of those boxes, naturally catching the eyes of passersby with its classy, yet powerful aura. The Korea Herald had the chance to test drive the Maserati Levante S GranSport Zegna Pelletessuta, the limited edition model whose interi

May 20, 2021

SK Innovation, Ford to announce EV battery joint venture in US: sources

South Korean battery maker SK Innovation Co. and American automaker Ford Motor Co. are set to announce a battery joint venture in the United States to ensure a stable supply of batteries for electric vehicles, industry sources said Thursday. The two companies plan to announce a memorandum of understanding on the joint venture later in the day, as South Korean President Moon Jae-in meets with US President Joe Biden in Washington this week to discuss bilateral issues, including EV industry coope

May 20, 2021

All S. Korean airlines except Korean Air post Q1 operating losses for first quarter

All South Korean airlines except Korean Air suffered operating losses during the first quarter of this year, as the coronavirus pandemic, which dealt a particularly severe blow to budget airlines, shows no sign of stopping soon. Asiana Airlines posted an operating loss of 11.2 billion won ($10 million) and a net loss of 230.4 billion won on Monday, though the losses narrowed compared to the same time a year ago. The country’s second-largest airline saw its revenue drop by 30.6 percent co

May 18, 2021

Han Sung Motor rolls out third signature perfume

Han Sung Motor, the largest Mercedes-Benz dealer here, presented its third signature perfume, Passion Mystique, as part of efforts to better connect with its customers, the company said Monday. To create a new brand experience, Han Sung Motor has sought to link its unique fragrances with the brand’s identity, and launched its first signature perfume Hansung Interior Fragrance in 2015 upon the company’s 30th anniversary. The company released Han Sung No. 2 in the following year. A

May 18, 2021

Budget carriers suffer extended losses in Q1 over prolonged pandemic slump

South Korea's low-cost carriers suffered an extended loss in the first quarter as the coronavirus continued to weigh on travel demand, data showed Tuesday, raising concerns over their ability to stay afloat even after the pandemic. Budget carriers have grounded most of their flights on international routes since early 2020 as many countries placed restrictions amid virus fears, facing cutthroat competition for cheap domestic flights. While the nation's full-service carriers have managed to ma

May 18, 2021

Korea Airports Corp. ‘on course’ to lead airport expansion project in Laos

Korea Airports Corp. said on Monday that it is on course to lead a project worth 100 billion won ($88.2 million) to expand Luang Prabang International Airport in Laos. Once the ongoing deal is finalized, the move will see the public enterprise behind Gimpo and Jeju International Airports become a first in the country to pursue such a project in the Southeast Asian country. “Amid the prolonged coronavirus crisis and hardships surrounding it, we are honored to announce our foray into succe

May 17, 2021

Air carriers to raise fuel surcharges on int'l routes in June

South Korean airlines will raise fuel surcharges on international routes next month amid rising jet fuel prices, industry sources said Monday. Starting June 1, the surcharge for one-way tickets on international routes will range from 3,600 won ($3.20) to 20,400 won depending on the routes, according to the sources. The amount is up one level from the band of 1,200 won to 9,600 won for this month. Rising jet fuel prices prompted local air carriers to begin imposing fuel surcharges in April af

May 17, 2021

Budget carrier Eastar begins auction to find investor

Financially troubled budget carrier Eastar Jet said Monday it has begun an open auction to find an investor after selecting a preliminary preferred investor last week. In the open bid, Eastar Jet plans to receive letters of intent from interested companies by June 14 and select a final investor afterward, Eastar Chief Executive Kim You-sang said over the phone. On Friday, Eastar signed a contract with an unidentified local investor and obtained approval for the preliminary deal from the Seoul

May 17, 2021

Hyundai signs deal to export 500 Palisade SUVs to Congo

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker, said Sunday it has signed a deal with the Democratic Republic of Congo to export 500 Palisade sport utility vehicles as part of its export diversification strategy. Of the 500 Palisades, Hyundai shipped 250 units to the African country on Saturday, with the remaining 250 set to be delivered in late July, the company said in a statement. The export volume is sharply up from 45 vehicles the company exported to the central African country last

May 16, 2021

Eastar Jet founder indicted on charges of embezzlement, breach of trust

Prosecutors on Friday indicted the founder of cash-strapped budget carrier Eastar Jet for embezzlement and breach of trust. Lee Sang-jik, an independent lawmaker, faces several charges including causing about 43.9 billion won (US$38.8 million) in losses to the airline by underselling company shares to a subsidiary owned by his children in 2015. He is also suspected of embezzling about 5.3 billion won from its affiliates. Lee was arrested late last month, after the National Assembly passed a

May 14, 2021

[Behind the Wheel] Porsche Taycan 4S shows what EVs are capable of

After Porsche unveiled its first electrified sports car, the Taycan, in 2019, the automaker faced questions from car enthusiasts. What makes a sports car a sports car? Could a battery-powered car really ever offer the same thrilling ride as a high-performance conventional sports car? But after taking the Porsche Taycan 4S for a 350-kilometer trip in a mountainous region of Gangwon Province, this reporter was impressed. The car not only proved as capable as any sports car that runs on gasoline

May 13, 2021

Genesis vehicle sales exceed 500,000 in past 5 years

Hyundai Motor Co. sold more than 500,000 units of vehicles under its independent Genesis brand since its launch five years ago, the company said Wednesday. Hyundai sold 378,999 Genesis vehicles in the domestic market and 121,192 units overseas since November 2015, the company said in a statement. The Genesis brand has advanced to the United States, Canada, the Middle East, Russia, and Australia, with a plan to make inroads into China and Europe this year. The Genesis lineup consists of the G9

May 12, 2021

S. Korean airlines expand non-scheduled flights to India this month

Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's two biggest carriers, said Tuesday they will expand non-scheduled flights to India this month to bring home Koreans residing there amid the spreading COVID-19 pandemic. Korean Air and Asiana said they plan to provide two and seven flights, respectively, in May to the virus-hit South Asian country. It is up from one and four flights that Korean Air and Asiana originally planned for this month. Asiana already flew two flights on route

May 11, 2021

Eco-friendly cars take up 71% of new public vehicles in 2020: data

South Korea said Tuesday eco-friendly cars, including electric models, accounted for 71 percent of the total vehicles purchased by public organizations last year, as the country continued its efforts to go carbon neutral by 2050. The country's 609 public organizations purchased 7,736 automobiles in 2020, of which 5,494 were eco-friendly models, according to the government data. Eco-friendly models include electric, hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid cars. The survey was based on public organizatio

May 11, 2021

Transport ministry shares next-generation medium-sized satellite’s recordings of landmarks in Korea

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has unveiled satellite recordings of some of South Korea’s landmarks captured by the country’s next-generation medium-sized satellite, including the Government Complex in Sejong, Seoul Olympic Stadium and the easternmost islets of Dokdo. The satellite, Compact Advanced Satellite 500 or CAS500, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodome in Kazakhstan on March 22, becoming the country’s first national land observation satellite.

May 10, 2021

[Behind the Wheel] Mercedes-Benz S-Class returns with smart technology twist

The so-called “boss car” Mercedes-Benz S-Class has returned in seven years with a complete makeover, boasting what a luxury saloon can offer for a car ride. Since the launch of its previous model in 2013, the S-Class has maintained its reputation as a prestigious sedan and often the choice of business entrepreneurs for its luxurious image. The car also appeals to older drivers, not only for the high price range, but also for its classic design that has remained unchanged for sev

May 9, 2021

Hyundai Motor slips to 2nd place in global fuel cell EV market after Toyota in Q1

As competition is escalating among hydrogen automakers, Toyota Motor topped global fuel cell electric vehicle sales in the first quarter this year, beating Hyundai Motor, which had led the global FCEV market in 2020, research revealed Wednesday. According to SNE Research, global sales of FCEVs jumped 89.2 percent on-year, hitting nearly 4,000 units in the first quarter this year. Toyota, which took 15.1 percent of the FCEV market share in 2020, witnessed a surge in its FCEV sales by nearly

May 5, 2021

Kia EV6 draws strong preorders in Europe

Kia Corp., South Korea's No. 2 automaker, said Wednesday its first all-electric model, the EV6, logged decent presale orders in Europe. According to the automaker, presale orders for the EV have topped 7,000 in Britain, France, Germany and other major countries, with the number set to further rise. Kia unveiled its crossover EV built on a dedicated platform last month and received 21,016 units of preorders on the first day of its launch in South Korea, which set a new record among the automak

May 5, 2021

Hyundai to launch Genesis brand in Europe this summer

South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor said Tuesday it will launch the Genesis brand in Europe this summer to gain a share in the high-end and electric vehicle markets.  Hyundai Motor will initially launch the G80 sedan and the GV80 SUV in European markets, such as Germany, Britain and Switzerland, in June, the company said in a statement.  Hyundai said it also plans to introduce the G70 sedan, the GV70 SUV and a strategic model customized for European markets this year. In its broad e

May 4, 2021