BMW’S NEW MAXI SCOOTERS -- BMW Korea unveiled its new maxi scooters C 650 Sport and C 650 GT at the opening of the 1st Seoul Motorcycle Show in Coex on Friday. Prices start from 15.9 million won ($13,900) and 16.5 million won, respectively. (BMW Korea)

Mobility March 31, 2016

(Yonhap)The government plans to establish a new team under the Transportation Ministry to exclusively support self-driving and eco-friendly cars, according to officials Wednesday. The ministry said it plans to create a high-tech auto technology division in May at the latest, with the aim of backing the autonomous and eco-friendly vehicle industry, which is still at a nascent stage here. “We plan to separately manage autonomous car technologies, which have so far been supervised together with oth

Mobility March 30, 2016

The Korean Transportation Ministry has filed a complaint against the Korean unit of German carmaker Mercedes-Benz with the prosecution on charges of having installed automatic transmissions without proper authentication procedures, officials said Tuesday. The ministry said it filed a complaint with the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office against Mercedes-Benz Korea’s chief Dimitris Psillakis, accusing him of violating the automobile management act and clean air conservation act. The carmaker fail

Mobility March 29, 2016

Kia Motors launched its first hybrid compact sport utility vehicle Niro on Tuesday, targeting sales of 40,000 units worldwide this year. “We have set a goal of selling 18,000 units of Niro domestically and 20,000 cars globally, targeting young singles and couples in their 20s and 30s,” said Kim Chang-sik, executive vice president of domestic sales, at the launch of Niro in Seoul.  Kia Motors president Park Han-woo (right) and executive vice president Kim Chang-sik pose at the launch of compact S

Mobility March 29, 2016

Hyosung Group chairman Cho Suck-rae’s leadership and vision helped the spandex-maker garner record earnings last year, company officials said Monday. “Hyosung’s spandex business, which generated more than 40 percent of total operating profits last year, is the outcome of chairman Cho’s strong tenacity in developing the synthetic fiber,” a company official said. Hyosung’s researchers conduct an experiment on polyketone material. (Hyosung)He recalled that Hyosung had to struggle for seven years an

Industry March 28, 2016

 The head of Hanmi Global, a construction management company, joined the list of the 100 best-performing CEOs in Korea released by business magazine Maekyung Economy. He has been named on the list for 11 straight years.Chairman Kim Jong-hoon, who adopted construction management programs for the first time in Korea in 1996, has gained a reputation for growing the company into a leading construction management firm with a global presence in 48 nations.  Hanmi Global’s chairman Kim Jong-hoonKim is

Industry March 28, 2016

KCCI, AFDB LEADERS MEET IN SEOUL - Park Yong-maan (right), chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, poses for a photograph with Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, after discussing the economic cooperation of both organizations at the KCCI office Sunday.

Industry March 27, 2016

BMW-SNU PARTNERSHIP -- BMW Korea CEO Kim Hyo-joon (right) shakes hands with Lee Kun-woo, dean of the engineering college at Seoul National University, after signing an agreement to work together on driverless technology and to provide internships to college students in a ceremony at the univeristy in Seoul on Friday. (BMW Korea)

Mobility March 27, 2016

GENESIS SPORTS SEDAN -- Hyundai Motor unveiled the “New York” concept of Genesis at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday. The hybrid sports sedan concept of the automaker’s luxury brand with 245 horsepower has 2.0-liter hybrid drive system coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission. (Hyundai Motor)

Mobility March 27, 2016

The new head of Renault Samsung Motors vowed to focus on niche markets, such as compact sports utility vehicles this year, rather than jumping into direct competition with local giants.“We should be in a different (business) position from other rivals in the local market instead of playing on the playground built by Hyundai Motor,” said Park Dong-hoon, who took office last week as the new chief of the French carmaker Renault’s Korean unit.Renault Samsung's new chief executive Park Dong-hoon (Ren

Mobility March 27, 2016

South Korea’s top automaker Hyundai Motor rolled out its new mid-compact car Elantra in the Chinese market, setting a goal of selling 250,000 units this year. Naming the new car Lingdong for Chinese consumers, the company unveiled the vehicle at the Shanghai New International Expo Center on Friday and began selling it on the day. Hyundai Motor said it aims to sell more than 250,000 units of its new mid-compact in the nation this year, targeting Chinese customers in their late 20s and early 30s.C

Mobility March 27, 2016

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, one of the nation’s top three shipbuilders, may face a class-action lawsuit by long-term investors over its past false earnings report, according to industry sources.The move was detected a day after the shipbuilder restated the past earnings Wednesday, with its external audits pointing out that the loss of 2 trillion won ($1.7 billion) in the 2015 earnings report should be dated 2013 and 2014.(Yonhap)“Some investors are considering legal action against

Industry March 24, 2016

FCA ROLLS OUT NEW COMPACT SUV -- FCA Korea rolled out a small five-passenger SUV Fiat 500X in Seoul on Thursday. The new SUV is 4.2 meters long, 1.8 meters wide and 1.6 meters high. Its price tag starts from 29.9 million won ($25,700). (FCA Korea)

Mobility March 24, 2016

Daelim Group, a family-owned construction business-driven conglomerate with a 77-year history, is being exposed to risks following rising public anger at the revelations of longtime physical and verbal abuse of chauffers by the heir apparent. According to local Internet news site No Cut News on Wednesday, Lee Hae-wook, vice chairman of flagship affiliate Daelim Industrial, habitually abuses his chauffeurs by bad-mouthing them and risks their lives while driving, quoting former drivers.Describing

Business March 23, 2016

Top Japanese automaker Toyota will push for sales of its hybrids lineup with the launch of the all-new Prius hybrid, setting a goal of lifting the proportion of hybrid car sales to 50 percent from its current 32 percent in Korea, the carmaker said Monday.   TOYOTA PRESENTS FUTURE OF HYBRID WITH NEW PRIUS-- Toyota Korea CEO Akihisa Yoshida (right) poses next to the fourth-generation Prius hybrid at its launch event at Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul on Tuesday. (Toyota Korea)While launching the four

Mobility March 22, 2016