Luc Donckerwolke appointed as chief creative officer at Hyundai Motor

Hyundai Motor Group said Monday it has appointed Luc Donckerwolke to chief creative officer in charge of design-related communications for the Genesis brand, electric vehicle Ioniq and its fuel cell vehicles. Donckerwolke originally joined the South Korean automotive group in 2016, gradually overseeing design for Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands as the chief design officer before resigning in March to focus on his health. He is returning to the group following temporary time away in which he t

Nov. 2, 2020

Han Sung Motor opens digital showroom to promote Mercedes-Benz cars

In the era of the “fourth industrial revolution,” digitalization is inevitable for businesses. In this vein, Han Sung Motor, an official Mercedes-Benz dealer, is presenting a digital pop-up store to promote the German-brand and its vision for digitalizing the automobile industry. On Friday, the auto dealer held a three-day showroom, dubbed Han Sung Digital Park in Coex, Seoul. There, the auto dealer displayed Mercedes-Benz EQC 400, the first electric vehicle for the automaker, and

Nov. 2, 2020

Jin Air begins cargo delivery to US amid pandemic

Jin Air Co., the budget carrier unit of Korean Air Lines Co., said Monday it has begun transporting cargo to the United States to survive the coronavirus pandemic. Jin Air has become the country's first low-cost carrier to deliver cargo to the US. Jin Air delivered 23 tons of displays and other high-end electronics on its B777-200ER passenger jet from Incheon to Los Angeles on Sunday, the company said in a statement. "The company is planning to deliver more value-added cargo to the US a

Nov. 2, 2020

[From the scene] Getting on a ‘flight to nowhere’

On a Saturday morning in October, an Asiana Airlines flight carrying 250 passengers took off at Incheon Airport in the midst of a pandemic. The destination? Nowhere, although it flew over Gangneung, Pohang, Gimhae and Jeju Island during the nearly two-hour flight. As odd as it may sound to those who dread the idea of going to the airport, the destination-less flights, or “flights to nowhere” have become a hit of some sort with avid flyers in 2020 -- a year when commercial flying ha

Nov. 1, 2020

Hyundai Mobis strengthens competitiveness of future car software

Since 2018, Hyundai Mobis has been operating the “Mobis Software Academy” that allows employees and researchers to complete specialized software training at a technical institute in Yongin City, a move to reinforce the firm’s software development capabilities. The biggest feature of the academy is to focus on convergence software processes specialized for autonomous driving, such as sensors and technologies for the vehicles’ “cognition,” “judgment,&ldq

Nov. 1, 2020

President Moon pledges W20tr investment in future mobility, tours Hyundai’s Ulsan plant

President Moon Jae-in visited Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant on Friday for a tour of its future automobile production sites and reaffirmed the government’s strong willingness to foster eco-friendly future cars, officials said. 　 Moon was accompanied by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki and the ministers of industry, environment and transportation. At the production sites, Moon reaffirmed the government’s plans to invest more than 20

Oct. 30, 2020

Genesis unveils design for new SUV GV70

Hyundai Motor‘s premium brand Genesis revealed the design for its new luxury midsize SUV GV70 on Thursday, which is scheduled to hit the market later this year. With the model’s name inspired by the initials of the brand Genesis and its “versatility,” the carmaker said the mid-size SUV was built with an elegant finish and a dynamic design -- the brand’s design philosophy known as “athletic elegance” -- which will differentiate itself from its rivals.

Oct. 29, 2020

Volkswagen Korea aims to ‘democratize’ imported car market

Volkswagen Korea aims to “democratize” the imported vehicle market here with a robust lineup of eight models, the company said Thursday. Reiterating the goal the company announced in 2018, the automaker said it aimed to expand its vehicle portfolio in South Korea and offer them at reasonable prices to compete with Korean brand automobiles. With its popular sports utility vehicle Tiguan in lead, the automaker said its sales tripled in the first three quarters this year, compared

Oct. 29, 2020

Hyundai unveils design of Genesis GV70 SUV

Hyundai Motor Co. on Thursday unveiled the design of the GV70 SUV under its independent Genesis brand as it strives to gain a share in the high-end vehicle market. The midsized GV70 is the second SUV model with the Genesis badge following the launch of the GV80 SUV in January. Hyundai applied its "athletic elegance" design language to the GV70 following the similar aesthetic of the GV80 SUV and G80 sedan. The GV70 comes with Signature Genesis design elements that include a deep cr

Oct. 29, 2020

FCA Korea releases limited All-New Wrangler Willys edition

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Korea said Wednesday that it is releasing the All-New Wrangler Willys edition, presenting just 100 units here. According to the company, the All-New Wrangler Willys edition was inspired by the Willys Overland CJ-3A -- the “father” of modern recreational vehicles, which was introduced around the end of 1948. The four-door off-roader has a hood that displays a decal exclusive to the Willys and a black seven-slot grille that hints at the original Willys, t

Oct. 29, 2020

ETAS Korea partners with KPMG on automobile security business

ETAS Korea said Tuesday it has agreed to cooperate with KPMG Samjong Accounting on automobile security business. In June 2020, the UNECE’s World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations recently adopted a regulation on cyber security to mandate automakers and auto part producers to put in place a system to tackle security risks prior to putting vehicles on the market. UNECE stands for United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Accordingly, all new cars to be registered in Eu

Oct. 27, 2020

[Photo News] BMW Driving Center celebrates 1 million visitors

BMW Korea said Monday its BMW Driving Center in Yeongjongdo, Incheon celebrated an accumulated 1 million visitors, since opening in August 2014. The BMW Driving Center offers various hands-on programs, such as test-drives on its 2.6-kilometer driving track and education courses for children.  The center in Yeongjongdo is the company‘s first to be built in Asia and the third in the world, after Germany and the US, the company said. Written by Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com)

Oct. 26, 2020

Budget carrier Jeju Air seen to get state support

Jeju Air Co., South Korea's top low-cost carrier, will likely receive state financial support in a bid to help overcome a coronavirus-caused cash crunch, sources said Monday. In May, South Korea launched a 40 trillion-won ($35.4 billion) fund to provide financial aid to the country's backbone industries, including the airline service sector, amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the sources, the operational council of the Key Industry Stabilization Fund is slated

Oct. 26, 2020

Jeju Air joins rivals' push for plane conversion for cargo

Jeju Air Co., South Korea's biggest low-cost carrier, said Thursday it will carry cargo using a passenger jet to offset a sharp decline in air travel demand amid the coronavirus pandemic. Jeju Air plans to deploy a B737-800 passenger jet to deliver cargo from Incheon to Bangkok from late Thursday, the company said in a statement. "The company is considering expanding cargo delivery using passenger jets to other countries depending on market conditions," the statement said. Budget c

Oct. 22, 2020

Lexicon Premium Sound System applied to sporty Genesis G70

Harman International Korea said Wednesday its Lexicon Premium Sound System is being offered as an option for the Genesis sports sedan, the New G70, which was recently rolled out. According to the car audio supplier, the Lexicon Premium Sound System adds six more speakers to the originally installed nine to offer the best audio sound quality, with a high power output Class D Amplifier and under seat subwoofer. The 15 speakers balance the different ranges of sound, and the subwoofer installed

Oct. 21, 2020

GM introduces first super truck Hummer EV

GM introduced Wednesday the brand‘s first super truck, Hummer EV, developed to forge new paths with zero emissions. It will be the first fully electric addition to GMC’s lineup, GM said, adding that it would be driven by next-generation propulsion technology that enables advanced off-road capability, on-road performance and an immersive driving experience. GMC is a division of GM that primarily focuses on trucks and utility vehicles. “This innovative truck comes to the mar

Oct. 21, 2020

Han Sung Motor collaborates with Dream Gream students on tape art work

Han Sung Motor, the largest official dealer of Mercedes-Benz here, continues to support young artists with the Dream Gream art scholarship program, preparing all events online in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. In the Han Sung Motor Cheongdam showroom in Seoul, Han Sung Motor CEO Ulf Ausprung and some 10 officials gathered Friday to hold this year’s Dream Gream Ambassador event. About 30 other ambassadors, who are company officials, took part in the event via a livestreaming platform. T

Oct. 21, 2020

Jeju Air resumes flights to China's Harbin

Jeju Air Co., South Korea's biggest low-cost carrier, on Wednesday resumed flights to the Chinese city of Harbin to meet travel demand from businessmen and students. Jeju Air will offer one flight a week on the Incheon-Harbin route from Wednesday after suspending the route for more than seven months amid the new coronavirus pandemic, the company said in a statement. The budget carrier has suspended most of its 76 international routes since March as countries strengthened entry restrictions to

Oct. 21, 2020

Hyundai launches facelifted Genesis G70 in S. Korea

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker, on Tuesday launched the upgraded G70 sedan under its independent Genesis brand in the domestic market to boost sales amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The facelifted G70 comes with a 2.0-liter gasoline turbocharged engine, a 2.2 diesel engine or a 3.3 gasoline turbocharged engine, the company said in a statement. The upgraded version of the first-generation G70 underwent major design changes and features a wide and deep crest grille, quad headlamps

Oct. 20, 2020

Mercedes-Benz new Actros exhibition, test-drive event runs in 11 regions

Daimler Trucks Korea said Tuesday that it is successfully running an exhibition and test-drive event for Mercedes-Benz’s new Actros, launched last month. Presented via a digital launching event Sept. 10, the new Actros has grabbed the attention of truck drivers and Mercedes-Benz customers for its newest technological functions, the automaker said. The fifth-generation Actros is equipped with five innovative functions, the company said: the MirrorCam, Active Drive Assist, Active Brake A

Oct. 20, 2020