Hyundai Motor appoints 1st foreign CEO

Hyundai Motor Group appointed Jose Munoz, global chief operating officer at Hyundai Motor Co., as the next CEO of the auto brand on Friday, marking the conglomerate’s first-ever appointment of a foreign leader. The appointment is to take effect on Jan. 1. Munoz, a native of Spain and a US citizen, joined the Korean automaker in 2019 and has served as president and global COO of Hyundai Motor Co. as well as president of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America. “Through strengthening d

Nov. 15, 2024

Hyundai donates EVs to support UN hunger relief with sustainable transport

Hyundai Motor Group has donated eight Ioniq 5 electric vehicles to the United Nations World Food Programme to support its humanitarian missions with cleaner, more sustainable transportation, the automaker said Friday. As the world’s largest hunger-relief organization, WFP is at the forefront of efforts to end food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in areas affected by conflict and extreme poverty. Through this partnership, Hyundai and WFP aim to make humanitarian aid efforts more e

Nov. 15, 2024

[KH Explains] For Korean automakers, Chinese EVs may loom larger than Trump’s tariffs

Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House has reignited fears of trade protectionism in the global auto industry. But the real question for automakers may not be about tariffs or changes to the Inflation Reduction Act. Trump’s stance on Chinese electric vehicles could have a greater impact, especially as Chinese automakers continue their aggressive push into global markets. For South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia, who face the mounting pressure of China’s rap

Nov. 14, 2024

[Photo News] Hungarian SK Road

An SK Road sign is posted in Ivancsa, a Hungarian industrial village, in recognition of Korena battery-maker SK On's economic contributions to the region. The newly designated road stretches approximately 1.8 kilometers, connecting the Ivancsa industrial park to SK On’s electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant. SK On has also donated 15 million forints ($39,000) to local communities to help improve the urban environment, upgrade school facilities, revitalize local events and provi

Nov. 14, 2024

Renault Grand Koleos boasts 30% share in hybrid SUVs

Renault Korea’s latest hybrid sport utility vehicle Grand Koleos has seen smooth driving, claiming more than 30 percent market share in its segment as of October. Having debuted in August, the Grand Koleos E-Tech Hybrid sold 5,385 vehicles last month alone, with cumulative sales reaching 9,330. Driven by the new car's transactions, Renault's total sales more than tripled in Korea in October. Renault's upbeat sales come as Korean drivers have shown a growing appetite for hybr

Nov. 13, 2024

BYD to enter Korean passenger car market early next year

BYD will officially enter the Korean passenger vehicle market early next year, the Chinese electric vehicle maker's Korean office announced Wednesday. The announcement came after months of speculation over when BYD would launch its passenger EVs in the Korean market. BYD Korea already entered the commercial vehicle market in 2016 and has released electric buses and trucks here since then. BYD Korea said it has reviewed the feasibility of a passenger vehicle business in Korea over the past f

Nov. 13, 2024

Hyundai to launch AI-powered EV in China next year

Hyundai Motor, in collaboration with Chinese partner Haomo, will launch its first Chinese-market-dedicated electric vehicle equipped with generative artificial intelligence technology next year. “We are working to load the software of Haomo, a local autonomous driving software firm, onto the EV, which will be released in the Chinese market next year,” said a Hyundai Motor official. “The level of autonomous driving is somewhere between 2 and 2.5.” With a scale of autonomou

Nov. 12, 2024

Boston Dynamics robot dog joins Trump’s security detail

Spot, the four-legged robotics dog developed by Boston Dynamics, a subsidiary under Hyundai Motor Group, has reportedly joined the security detail for US President-elect Donald Trump. The $75,000 mechanical canine, bearing a cautionary tag that reads “Do not pet,” was seen patrolling the grounds of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. News reports said that the remote-controlled dog is with the US Secret Service. “We do not have specific details on Boston

Nov. 12, 2024

Hyundai’s Atlas robot takes the spotlight as Tesla's Optimus stumbles

Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics has been making headlines with the latest developments in its humanoid robot, Atlas. In recent promotional videos, the all-electric version of Atlas is shown performing complex tasks in a simulated factory environment, suggesting that the company may be closer than ever to deploying humanoid robots in industrial settings. This unveiling comes about a month after Tesla demonstrated its own humanoid robot, Optimus, at the company's "We, Robot" event, wh

Nov. 12, 2024

[From the Scene] How BMW’s growing Korea parts hub gets repairs done faster than ever

ANSEONG -- In South Korea, BMW drivers benefit from a parts delivery system that’s hard to beat. Need a part? If the order is placed in the morning, it’ll arrive at the dealership by 5 p.m. the same day. Order it in the afternoon, and it’s there by 7 a.m. the next morning. This rapid response is powered by BMW’s Anseong Regional Distribution Center, a logistics hub located about 80 kilometers south of Seoul, dedicated to keeping BMWs on the road with minimal downtime. Fir

Nov. 11, 2024

[Photo News] Kia Sportage in Squid Game style

Kia is bringing the excitement of "Squid Game" Season 2 to its new Sportage launch with an interactive campaign. A teaser video released last Thursday has revealed the Sportage alongside iconic pink guards of "Squid Game," while a special pop-up showroom in Seoul from Nov. 15 to 24 lets fans dive into the experience firsthand. Visitors can join a scavenger hunt, explore themed rooms and get hands-on with the SUV. (Kia)

Nov. 11, 2024

LG eyes footing in aerospace with possible SpaceX deal

LG Energy Solution has reportedly forged a deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to supply its cylindrical lithium-ion batteries, further strengthening its partnership with Tesla and advancing its footprint to the global aerospace sector. According to industry sources on Monday, the Korean battery-maker has started developing batteries for the power supply units of SpaceX’s next-generation Starship launch vehicle, the world's first reusable rocket, as soon as next year. This marks SpaceX

Nov. 11, 2024

LG ramps up US battery push with $6.7b supply deal for Rivian EVs

South Korea's LG Energy Solution has secured a landmark deal with Rivian, the US electric vehicle maker known for its rugged electric trucks and SUVs. The South Korean battery manufacturer will deliver a total of 67 gigawatt-hours worth of 4695 cells -- named for their 46mm diameter and 95mm height -- over the next five years. Although neither company disclosed the exact financial details, Korean industry analysts estimate that the deal could be worth at least $6.7 billion, based on the typ

Nov. 8, 2024

Hyundai Motor edges closer to global No. 2 carmaker in profit

Hyundai Motor Group has outpaced Volkswagen Group in the third-quarter profit, edging closer to claiming the world’s second-largest carmaker title this year for the first time. From June to September, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia and Genesis posted 69.4 trillion won ($49.7 billion) in sales revenue and 6.5 trillion won in operating profit. Volkswagen Group reported higher sales of 78.5 billion euros ($84.2 billion), but it fell behind in profit with 2.9 billion euros. This marks a significan

Nov. 7, 2024

Tata Daewoo rebranded for EV shift

GUNSAN -- Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company, a well-established name in commercial trucks often seen on construction sites and in logistics operations across the globe, has rebranded itself as Tata Daewoo Mobility. Joining a broader industry trend, Tata Daewoo’s rebranding as a "mobility" company reflects its new mission to lead in eco-friendly transport through the development of electric and hybrid vehicles. During the 30th anniversary ceremony held at its headquarters in

Nov. 7, 2024

[Photo News] 80 years of Kia

An exhibition reflecting on Kia's 80-year heritage, "From Moments to Movement" kicked off Thursday at its brand store in southern Seoul. The exhibition features iconic Kia historical car models, including the Sportage sport utility vehicle and Pride compact vehicle, alongside its latest innovations like the EV9 and EV3 electric vehicles. (Kia)

Nov. 7, 2024

Kia Sportage returns stronger

Kia unveiled the new Sportage, the automaker’s best-selling sport utility vehicle, in Seoul on Monday, highlighting the enhanced product’s all-around upgrade, which it expects to continue accounting for a major part of the automaker’s market presence. “The new Sportage, which we are presenting today with pride, contains innovative changes that are on par with a full model change,” said Jeong Woo-jeong, head of Kia’s domestic business division, in a media prese

Nov. 5, 2024

SK On reports first-ever profit in Q3

SK On, SK Innovation’s battery subsidiary, reported its first-ever quarterly profits in the third quarter of this year after years of operating losses since its spinoff in 2021. During its earnings conference call on Monday, the battery maker reported an operating profit of 24 billion won ($17.4 million) in the July-September period, a significant turnaround from last year’s 86.1 billion won deficit, largely driven by inventory clearance and enhanced cost structure. Its sales fell

Nov. 4, 2024

[From the Scene] A rare glimpse into Mercedes' data-driven battery assembly

HEDELFINGEN, Germany -- At Mercedes-Benz’s battery production facility in Hedelfingen, Stuttgart, a group of Korean reporters was recently given a close-up look at how the automaker assembles the battery packs that power its flagship electric vehicles, the EQS and EQE. The visit offered a rare glimpse into the detailed, highly automated process that Mercedes-Benz takes on to ensure the reliability of its EV batteries. “Every little part is recorded and can be kept for up to 30 years

Nov. 4, 2024

Hyundai renews hydrogen vision with more advanced Initium SUV

Hyundai Motor on Monday introduced a concept version of Initium, a hydrogen fuel-cell sport utility vehicle, adding a new chapter to its 27-year commitment toward renewable energy solutions. “The new addition to the hydrogen-powered SUV lineup will debut next year,” said Chang Jae-hoon, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor, at a press conference at Hyundai Motor Studio in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. “Moving beyond mobility, we have introduced our hydrogen value chain business, H

Oct. 31, 2024