STUTTGART, Germany (DPA) ― It is not the most handsome, the most valuable or the fastest of its kind but it does have a very special distinction.The frail-looking patent motor vehicle in the style of a tricycle which burst on the scene in Germany 125 years ago is regarded as the world’s very first automobile.Replicas of the pioneering three-wheeler submitted to the German Imperial Patent Office on

Mobility Jan. 30, 2011

Tata Motors Ltd. may expand sales of the Nano, the world’s cheapest car, to countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as early as this year as demand for the egg-shaped vehicle rebounds in India.“We will go after these markets one after another,” Tata chief executive officer Carl-Peter Forster said Thursday at an auto-industry event in Bochum, Germany.  Tata Motors Ltd. Nano vehicles ar

Mobility Jan. 30, 2011

Steelmaker boosts magnesium capabilities in its diversification driveAs magnesium alloys emerge as next-generation material for vehicles, POSCO, the world’s fourth-largest steelmaker, is betting on the metal to fuel the next stage of its drive to become an all-round materials developer.While the market for magnesium alloys remains relatively small, such materials have become key candidates for use

Industry Jan. 27, 2011

Hyundai Motor Co.’s net annual profits broke the 5 trillion won mark for the first time in 2010 buoyed by improving performances from overseas operations, the company announced Thursday.The company’s net profits for 2010 jumped 77.8 percent from the previous year to come in at 5.27 trillion won ($4.73 billion), while operating profits came in at 3.23 trillion won, up 44.4 percent from 2009.The com

Industry Jan. 27, 2011

No. 2 carmaker releases new Morning with upgraded safety, convenience featuresJEJU ― Kia Motors Corp. launched the latest version of its Morning city car on the local market Monday.The company aims to sell 100,000 units on the domestic market and 120,000 units overseas this year.From next year, the company hopes to raise the overseas figure by 20,000, pushing up the overall sales figure to 240,000

Industry Jan. 24, 2011

The five Somali pirates captured alive by South Korea's navy commandos during a mission to rescue a hijacked cargo ship in the Arabian Sea are expected to be brought to Seoul for a trial here, a senior government official said Sunday."At first, we have been in consultations with neighboring countries (of Somalia) on how to hold them accountable. Unless that option is available, we will bring them

Politics Jan. 24, 2011

Despite the hype from carmakers and the government’s drive to popularize eco-friendly vehicles, South Korean motorists remain lukewarm toward hybrid electric vehicles.According to industry statistics, less than 8,700 hybrid electric vehicles were sold here in 2010, accounting for less than 0.56 percent of the overall market. Of the 11 hybrid electric models available in Korea, Hyundai Motor Co.’s

Mobility Jan. 24, 2011

Daimler Truck Korea launched the cargo truck Actros on the local market Thursday. With the new truck, Mercedes-Benz is entering the country’s market for large cargo trucks, which accounts for about 60 percent of large truck sales, for the first time. ActrosThe truck is equipped with a V6 engine that puts out 476 brake horsepower, and has been designed for use in various functions including transpo

Mobility Jan. 23, 2011

Subaru Korea launched the 2011 Forester compact sport utility vehicle on the local market last Monday.In addition to the usual upgrades seen in model year changes, the new Forester is fitted with the third-generation Boxer engine. 2011 ForesterIn Subaru’s Boxer engine, the pistons are arranged and move horizontally, as opposed to the up and down movement of an inline engine, which according to the

Mobility Jan. 23, 2011