Porsche previews Macan Electric in Korea, arriving later this year

Porsche Korea previewed the brand's first all-electric sport utility vehicle, the Macan Electric, in Korea during a media event at Porsche Studio Songpa in southeastern Seoul on Monday. “We are thrilled to announce that the all-electric Macan will be arriving in Korea later this year. It encapsulates the classic Porsche sports car experience in an electric SUV format with extensive range and practicality for the everyday driver,” said Holger Gerrmann, CEO of Porsche Korea at the

June 26, 2024

LS Cable to power NextStar battery plant in Canada

LS Cable & System, one of the world’s leading cable manufacturers, said Monday that it will provide high-capacity power distribution bus ducts for NextStar Energy’s new battery plant in the Canadian province of Ontario. NextStar Energy, a partnership between LG Energy Solution and Stellantis, is building a large electric vehicle battery factory in Windsor, Ontario. Bus ducts are metal-enclosed systems that house conductive plates to efficiently distribute high-capacity electric

June 24, 2024

[Photo News] Record time

Hyundai Motor Group said Monday it has set new records at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race in Colorado, clinching the fastest times in both modified and unmodified categories for mass-produced electric vehicles. The modified Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Time Attack Spec accomplished the course in 9 minutes and 30.852 seconds, surpassing the previous record for a mass-produced EV. The standard Ioniq 5 N completed the race in 10 minutes and 49.267 seconds, also setting a new benchmark. (Hyundai M

June 24, 2024

Hyundai Motor to seek breakthrough in Japan with Casper Electric

Hyundai Motor is hoping its newest all-electric small vehicle, the Casper Electric, will allow it to break through in the Japanese market, a near wasteland for the Korean automaker. According to Hyundai Motor, the Casper Electric will be unveiled for the first time during press day at the Busan International Mobility Show on Thursday. This year’s auto event will last through July 7. The Casper Electric is expected to hit the Japanese market next year after going on sale in Korea in the sec

June 23, 2024

Hyundai to start Georgia EV plant, unlocking IRA benefits

Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, Hyundai Motor Group’s new electric vehicle plant in Georgia, will begin production later this year, allowing the automaker to leverage the Inflation Reduction Act benefits to better compete in the US EV market. Hyundai announced Wednesday that the inaugural model to be produced at the Georgia plant will be the 2025 Ioniq 5. This launch, set for the fourth quarter, marks Hyundai’s first official statement on the operational timeline and specifi

June 20, 2024

EU 'ready to react appropriately' against possible safety issues involving T'way's European routes: EASA

The European Union's aviation safety authority will be "ready to react appropriately" against possible flight maintenance issues of the European operation of South Korean low-cost carrier T'way Air, which has recently been plagued by frequent delays due to aircraft maintenance issues, an agency spokesperson said Thursday. T'way Air experienced four flight delay incidents last week alone, affecting hundreds of international passengers connecting South Korea with overseas

June 20, 2024

S. Korea conducts probe into imported Toyota, Yamaha models over fraudulent Japanese testing

The South Korean government said Thursday it has carried out a probe into some imported vehicles made by Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Yamaha Motor Co. in connection with their improper certification tests in their home country. Seoul's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it has looked into whether 38 models from Japanese automakers currently under investigation for fraudulent certification tests in Tokyo were being sold in South Korea. The ministry said none of

June 20, 2024

Hyundai Mobis adopts sonic AI to assess quality

Hyundai Mobis, a South Korean auto parts developer under Hyundai Motor Group, said Wednesday that it has developed a sound-based artificial intelligence system that can determine the accuracy of product quality from sounds generated during inspection. It has applied the AI technology at its manufacturing site. According to Hyundai Mobis, a new technology called Acoustic AI has been installed at its Changwon plant in South Gyeongsang Province, which rolls out motor-driven power steering products.

June 19, 2024

North Korea claims its own EV brand with improbable 720km range

North Korea is making bold claims about importing and selling its own brand of electric vehicles with an improbable maximum range of 720 kilometers, drawing skepticism and curiosity from South Korean and international observers alike. Last Friday, a video titled "Madusan Economic Federation" was posted on the YouTube channel "Paektu TV From Paektu to Halla," which shares content purportedly from North Korean media. Paektu Mountain, also known as Baekdu Mountain, is an active

June 17, 2024

Hyundai Motor India files for record $3b IPO

Hyundai Motor India has officially submitted an initial public offering application to the Securities and Exchange Board of India to raise approximately $3 billion, potentially setting a record as the largest IPO in the country’s history. On Monday, Hyundai confirmed in a corporate disclosure that it has submitted a Draft Red Herring Prospectus to SEBI, initiating the IPO process for Hyundai Motor India Ltd., its local subsidiary. It marks a significant step in expanding both Hyundai&rsquo

June 17, 2024

[KH explains] Why Korean battery companies are key to Tesla's 2170 upgrade strategy

South Korean battery material companies are emerging as key players in Tesla's revamped supply chain as the carmaker upgrades its 2170 battery cells -- integral to its most popular models. Tesla's initiative to enhance battery performance centers on upgrading the anode and cathode materials, which are critical for improving energy density and charging speeds. The anode, which determines how much energy the battery can store, directly impacts the driving range of electric vehicles. Mean

June 16, 2024

[Test Drive] New Mini Countryman not so mini anymore

BMW Group’s premium compact car brand Mini has come back with a bigger, simpler and more digitalized model -- the new Mini Countryman -- as it aims to expand its turf. The Korea Herald participated in the Mini Countryman’s launch ceremony and media test drive event in Seoul on Thursday. The newest, third-generation Mini Countryman marked the product’s first fully changed model since its second-generation model was launched in 2017. The car's most distinguishable features a

June 16, 2024

Doosan chief, Kazakh president discuss key energy collaborations

Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana to discuss energy sector collaboration, as part of his role in the economic delegation accompanying South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on a state visit to Central Asia. Chairman Park and President Tokayev met Wednesday at the Hilton Astana Hotel, accompanied by high-ranking officials and executives including Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy Almassadam Satkaliyev, Samruk-Kazyna CEO Nurlan Zhakupov

June 13, 2024

SK, China's Geely partner on EV innovation

SK Inc., the investment arm of South Korea's SK Group, has announced a partnership with China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group to advance green mobility initiatives, focusing on electric vehicle batteries and automotive electronics. This collaboration aims to integrate SK's business development capabilities with Geely's expertise in mobility technology. The partnership was formalized with the signing of a framework agreement Wednesday. The global networking efforts of Chey Jae-

June 12, 2024

Hyundai hydrogen trucks hit 10m km of emission-free rides in Switzerland

Hyundai Motor Company’s hydrogen-powered truck Xcient Fuel Cell has surpassed 10 million kilometers in accumulated mileage in Switzerland, the South Korean automaker announced Wednesday. The milestone came three years and eight months after the world’s first mass-produced hydrogen-electric truck began to hit the roads in Switzerland in Oct. 2020. Currently, there are 48 Xcient Fuel Cells in operation in the central European country. The truck, which is equipped with a 180-kilowatt hy

June 12, 2024

Han Sung Motor launches industry-first 3-day trial of used cars

Han Sung Motor, the official Mercedes-Benz car dealer in Korea, on Wednesday launched a three-day trial service of its certified used cars, in an industry first. Customers who purchase a certified preowned Mercedes-Benz from Han Sung Motor can test drive the vehicle for three days and get a full refund with no penalties if dissatisfied. Vehicles eligible for the service are selected monthly, mainly among popular models. Customers can apply for the service through the inquiry channel of Han Sung

June 12, 2024

Hyundai Motor to premier first original film starring Son Suk-ku, Ioniq 5

Hyundai Motor Company said Tuesday it is releasing its first original film “Night Fishing,” starring actor Son Suk-ku and featuring its top-selling electric vehicle the Ioniq 5, this Friday nationwide. The film, the carmaker’s first foray into cinema, is a humanistic thriller weaving mystery and twists against the backdrop of an EV charging station. Directed by Moon Byoung-gon, the first Korean to win the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2013, this project marks his ret

June 11, 2024

LG-GM joint venture workers win 30% wage hike

LG Energy Solution and General Motors' joint venture, Ultium Cells, have tentatively agreed to a 30 percent wage increase over the next three years, significantly boosting worker pay amidst concerns about rising production costs. The United Auto Workers announced Monday that their local chapter at the Ultium Cells plant in Warren, Ohio, has reached a preliminary agreement with the company. This tentative deal still requires ratification by union members. UAW President Shawn Fain stated that

June 11, 2024

Busan mobility show to bank on hybrid, EV debuts

The 2024 Busan International Mobility Show will take place later this month amid challenges faced by traditional auto shows worldwide, with Hyundai-Kia, Renault Korea and BMW Korea expected to unveil their latest electric and hybrid models. The biannual event, hosted at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, will commence with a press day on June 27 and continue until July 7. This year’s show coincides with the decline of long-standing auto exhibitions like the Geneva Motor Show, whic

June 10, 2024

[Photo News] For child protection

Mercedes-Benz Korea's corporate social responsibility committee has donated 500 million won ($363,000) to a child protection agency in Busan, the German automaker's local office said Monday. The donation was part of some 1 billion won raised through the auto importer's charity run held in Busan in April. In this photo, Mathias (left), CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea, and Park Heong-joon, mayor of Busan, hold up the donation certificate during the delivery ceremony at Busan City Hall on

June 10, 2024