Kia launches hybrid variant of K8 sedan

Kia Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker, on Tuesday launched the hybrid version of the K8 sedan in the domestic market, completing a four-model lineup for the vehicle. The K8 hybrid comes with a 1.6-liter gasoline turbo hybrid engine, adding to the lineup of 2.5-liter gasoline, 3.5 gasoline and 3.5 liquefied petroleum injection engine models released last month. The hybrid model is priced at 36.98-42.87 million won ($32,950-$38,000) depending on options, the automaker said. Kia said

May 4, 2021

Hyundai, Kia sales in US more than double on SUV demand in April

Hyundai Motor Co. and affiliate Kia Corp., South Korea's two biggest carmakers, said Tuesday their combined US sales more than doubled in April from a year earlier on robust demand for their SUV models. Hyundai and Kia sold a total 147,700 vehicles in the United States last month from 65,673 units a year ago, according to the companies' sales data. "April 2021 was the second month in a row that we established a new best ever total and retail sales monthly record. As our all-new Tucson beg

May 4, 2021

GM to recall Bolt EVs to update battery software

US automaker General Motors Co. said Friday it will recall Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles equipped with batteries produced in LG Energy Solution Ltd.'s South Korean factory to update its battery software and ease fire risks. The recall covers about 69,000 Bolt EVs for the 2017-2019 model years, installed with LG's batteries made from its factory in Ochang, 120 kilometers south of Seoul. About 9,500 units were sold in South Korea, the Korean unit of GM said. Dealers will install "advan

April 30, 2021

Tesla to recall 561 vehicles for faulty components for first time in Korea

Imported car brands including Tesla Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea and BMW Korea will recall 13,797 vehicles to fix faulty components, the Transport Ministry said Thursday. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Tesla Korea will recall 561 units of the Model S it imported and sold here, which are installed with a flash memory device with tight capacity. It has been found that the lack of flash memory capacity can cause a malfunction in the touch-screen dashboard, rear ca

April 29, 2021

Hyundai Ioniq 5 buyers face lack of subsidies

The buyers of Hyundai Motor Co.'s Ioniq 5 all-electric car could face lack of state subsidies for EV purchases as a global chip shortage affects the model's production, industry sources said Thursday. Hyundai began the delivery of the Ioniq 5 on Thursday but still lacks traction motors essential to manufacture the new model. The company has received about 40,000 preorders for the Ioniq 5 since Feb. 25 and was planning to produce 10,000 units in April to meet demand. But it cut the output targe

April 29, 2021

7 firms to recall nearly 14,000 vehicles over faulty parts

Mercedes-Benz Korea, BMW Korea and five other companies will voluntarily recall nearly 14,000 vehicles to fix faulty components, the transport ministry said Thursday. This is the latest in a series of recalls by carmakers operating in South Korea and vehicle importers due to problems with vehicle components. The seven companies -- which include Honda Korea Co., Tesla Korea, MAN Truck & Bus Korea Ltd. and Hanbul Motors, which imports vehicles of France's PSA Group -- are recalling a combine

April 29, 2021

Jaguar Land Rover’s Range Rover Evoque presents what ‘smart’ SUV looks like

Amid growing competition over “smart” technologies in the automotive industry, Jaguar Land Rover Korea has presented its latest Range Rover Evoque equipped with the newest features to meet the expectations of tech-savvy Korean customers. The Korean unit of the British automaker rolled out the revamped model of the Range Rover Evoque, a compact sport utility vehicle, earlier this month. The new Range Rover Evoque implements Pivi Pro, which is an award-winning infotainment system

April 28, 2021

Mercedes-Benz S-Class returns with complete makeover

Mercedes-Benz Korea premiered the new 7th generation S-Class here on Wednesday, presenting the model’s first complete makeover in seven years. “More than 130-year-long heritage of craftsmanship and innovative technologies are the quintessence of the new S-Class,” said Thomas Klein, the president and the chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz Korea, said during the car’s local launch at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. The model was first unveiled globally in a dig

April 28, 2021

[Advertorial] Mercedes-Benz Korea stands as major donator among imported car brands

Mercedes-Benz Korea is steadily growing its social outreach programs to support local communities here, cementing its position as a corporate social responsibility leader among imported car brands. In the past six years following the launch of the programs in 2014, the Korean unit of the German automaker has donated a total of 30.1 billion won ($27 million), it said. That is among the top donations made by an imported car brand here, the company added. In 2020, Mercedes-Benz Korea donated ab

April 26, 2021

Porsche on a roll in Korea, posts biggest sales in 2020

German luxury car brand Porsche had its best year in Korea in 2020, selling a record number of vehicles, the company said Thursday. Porsche Korea’s 2020 sales surpassed 1 trillion won ($900 million) for the first time since it set up a business presence here in 2014. With 7,779 units sold, South Korea was the automaker’s fifth-largest market in terms of annual sales, following China, North America, Germany and the UK, the company said. “Last year was a milestone, as more

April 22, 2021

Jeju Air to resume Incheon-Saipan flights next month after hiatus

Low-cost carrier Jeju Air said on Thursday it will resume the flights between Incheon and Saipan late next month. The decision to fly again to the western Pacific island from May 28 comes after a hiatus of over one year. Around March last year, airlines including Jeju Air suspended flights to multiple destinations across the world including Saipan as the number of coronavirus cases began to increase. Though the move will help Korean nationals living in Saipan as well as travelers, a mandatory

April 22, 2021

Jeju Air to resume flights to Saipan next month

Jeju Air Co., South Korea's biggest budget carrier by sales, said Thursday it will resume flights to Saipan late next month in a preemptive measure to absorb post-coronavirus travel demand. Jeju Air plans to reopen the Incheon-Saipan route on May 28 upon permission from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a company spokesman said over the phone. "The transport ministry is in consultations with the health authorities to decide whether to approve one flight a week on the r

April 22, 2021

Hyundai Motor considering selling railway biz unit: sources

Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's largest automotive conglomerate, is mulling the sale of its railway business affiliate, industry sources said Tuesday. The group is considering selling Hyundai Rotem's loss-making railway business, according to the sources. Hyundai Motor, the group's crown jewel, is the largest shareholder in Hyundai Rotem, having held a 33.77 percent stake as of last year, which is estimated to value around 1 trillion won ($897 million) with the management premium.  Hy

April 20, 2021

T’way Air finalizes lease deal to introduce midsize jetliners early next year

Low-cost carrier T’way Air said Tuesday it has signed a deal to lease three midsized aircrafts A330-300 with plans to roll them out early next year. The plan will see the airline introduce a new fleet of aircrafts gradually between February and May in 2022. With the jetliner boasting a wide body, the airline will offer business and economy seats and a wider range of in-flight amenities. The airline said the move following the signing of a letter of intent in December will bolster its bu

April 20, 2021

[Behind the Wheel] Iconic exterior makes Jeep Wrangler shine

Jeep’s iconic sport utility vehicle Wrangler has undergone changes over the decades, evolving to embrace modern design factors here and there. With the continuing popularity of SUVs among local drivers, the trusty Jeep has maintained its position as a steady seller, with its unique appearance setting the standard for outdoor SUVs. The Wrangler has pulled off a remarkable performance so far this year. It sold 513 units in March, posting a growth rate of 324 percent on-year. That pushe

April 19, 2021

Porsche Korea expands its CSR program to support artists

Into its fifth year of running the social outreach project Porsche Do Dream, Porsche Korea is expanding the scheme to support artists facing difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic, the automaker said Monday. The Porsche Do Dream campaign, launched in 2017, has so far focused on children, bent on providing them with learning and playing opportunities. On top of that, this year’s program will include art projects or projects tailored for struggling artists, it said. “Over the pas

April 19, 2021

Hyundai Motor Group unveils EV variant of G80 for first time at Shanghai motor show

Hyundai Motor Group’s Genesis brand unveiled the first electric powertrain variant of its luxury sedan G80 at the 2021 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition on Monday. During the motor show, which is to run until April 28, Hyundai Motor and Kia, the other two affiliates of the automotive group, also presented their latest electric vehicles -- Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Kia’s EV6 -- putting emphasis on electric powertrains. Taking part in the Chinese automotive e

April 19, 2021

Hyundai Motor Group, SK Innovation team up on hybrid EV batteries

Hyundai Motor and Kia, Hyundai Motor Group’s two automakers, are joining hands with SK Innovation to develop batteries for hybrid electric vehicles, the group said Friday. The auto group will work with the country’s leading battery producer, SK Innovation, to develop “pouch-style” batteries optimized for electric vehicles. They hope to apply the batteries to Hyundai’s hybrid electric vehicles slated for release in 2024. The partnership will boost the country&rsq

April 16, 2021

Tesla's sales nearly quadruple in S. Korea last year

US electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc.'s sales in South Korea nearly quadrupled last year from a year earlier on rising popularity of its vehicles, its financial statement showed Thursday. Tesla Korea said in a regulatory filing that it logged 716.2 billion won ($640 million) in sales in the Korean market in 2020, up 295 percent from a year earlier. Its annual operating profit soared 429 percent on-year to 10.7 billion won, and its net income skyrocketed 507.7 percent to 7.9 billion won, the com

April 15, 2021

Aero K begins regular flights as S. Korea's 8th budget carrier

Aero K Airlines Co. on Thursday began regular flights with an A320ceo aircraft as South Korea's eighth low-cost carrier. Aero K began services on a domestic route between Cheongju, 140 kilometers south of Seoul, and Jeju Island, with a plan to expand flights to Asian countries such as China, Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam, the company said in a statement. The budget carrier has leased three A320ceo passenger jets from US-based aviation investment manager Carlyle Aviation Partners Ltd. "We are

April 15, 2021