GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., and its labor union reached a tentative wage deal on Thursday, one day after its unionized workers went on partial strike for higher pay. The deal includes an increase of 30,000 won ($26) in monthly base pay and a one-off bonus of 4.5 million won. The wage agreement is subject to a vote by union members. Unionized workers at GM Korea Co. launched a partial strike Wednesday to demand higher wages amid the protracted pandemic. The uni

Hyundai Motor sees sales surpass W30tr for the first time

Hoping to see more imported cars running on the streets in South Korea, German carmaker Volkswagen decided to lower the prices for its latest sport utility vehicles, the company said Thursday. Through an online press conference, Volkswagen Korea’s Managing Director Stefan Krapp announced the launch of The New Tiguan and introduced the automaker‘s “democratization” strategy. “We want to be the most accessible, most affordable, premium brand for Korean customers

Hyundai Mobis developed a brainwave detection device to alert motor vehicle operators against drowsy driving or sudden health issues, the auto parts developer said Wednesday. According to Hyundai Mobis, it completed development of M.Brain, a brainwave measuring technology that monitors and analyzes the driver’s brainwaves in real time, with earpiece sensors. While health care technologies measuring various biosignals are being developed by many others in the automotive industry, Hyund

As the subscription economy is expanding its scope into the automotive industry, Renault Samsung Motors’ Mobilize offers easy traveling for those planning to embark on a summer break, the automaker said Tuesday. Unlike other car rental programs, Mobilize, which is Renault Samsung’s monthly car subscription service, does not charge by mileage, and comes without an early termination fee, the automaker said. Renault Samsung said Mobilize subscribers can use its major vehicle lineup

The plan is to develop an air-launch system using its Boeing 747-400 aircraft

South Korea's low-cost carriers are planning to raise funds through a capital increase to ride out the prolonged coronavirus pandemic and put them in a better financial position, industry sources said Monday. Budget carriers have suffered the most since early last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have been struggling to raise their capital bases as business performance does not show signs of improvement in the face of the prolonged pandemic. Jeju Air Co., the country's biggest budget carr

Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Monday it has temporarily suspended its sole plant due to parts shortages. Renault Samsung will halt the Busan plant, 453 kilometers south of Seoul, from Monday to Tuesday due to lack of semiconductor parts, a company spokesman said. It is the first time for Renault Samsung to suspend the plant on a global chip shortage. In May, the company temporarily closed the plant, as its union continued strikes for a wage hike for

Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Corp.'s environment friendly vehicle exports jumped 45 percent in the January-May period from a year earlier on strong demand for their hybrid sport utility vehicles. Hyundai and Kia shipped a combined 145,781 eco-friendly vehicles in the first five months, up from 100,691 units in the year-ago period, according to data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA). Increased overseas sales of hybrid models based on Hyundai's Santa Fe and Tu

Starting with the Wrangler 4xe, Jeep will bring at least one electrified vehicle annually in South Korea from this year onward, the brand’s chief executive officer said, expressing determination to meet their goal for a carbon-free future. Holding a media roundtable Wednesday, Christian Meunier touted the auto company’s record sales in four countries -- South Korea, Japan, Australia and India -- and said it plans to introduce more electrified vehicles into the markets. The press e

Asiana Airlines shares resumed trading on Friday, nearly two months after the airline and its affiliates’ shares were suspended following criminal charges surrounding former management in late May. The airline’s stock price briefly soared to 21,450 won during Friday trading before dropping to 18,600 won later in the day. The Korea Exchange’s decision to temporarily suspend the airline’s stocks came after the arrest of former Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo on s

Budget carrier Air Premia Co. has obtained government approval for its operations amid the extended COVID-19 pandemic, the transport ministry said Friday. The ministry issued an air operator certificate (AOC) to Air Premia to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. "Air Premia needs to report its routes to the aviation authority before it begins flight services," a ministry official said. Air Premia plans to start services on mid-and long-haul routes initially with a 309

Multinational carmaker Stellantis Group said Friday it will bring six electrified models to South Korea by 2026 as it aims to get a share of the emerging local EV market.   Stellantis is a 50:50 joint venture recently set up through the merger of U.S. carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and French automaker PSA Groupe.  This year, Stellantis plans to introduce the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in the Korean market and five other electrified models in the nex

South Korea's exports of automobiles advanced 28 percent in the first half of 2021 on the back of the global economic recovery and rising demand for premium models, data showed Thursday. Outbound shipments of automobiles reached 1,049,658 units in the January-June period, rising from 820,873 units tallied a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In terms of value, exports also shot up 50 percent to hit $23.6 billion. It marked the first tim

Hyundai Motor unveiled its high-performance Avante N on Wednesday, expanding its N product lineup to present how the motorsports experience can be enjoyed in daily driving. The Avante N has been redesigned from the entry-level sedan Avante, released in April 2020, to a sports car that can be used in daily commutes and travels. Introduced under the name Elantra N for the global market, the new vehicle made its debut on the global stage in a YouTube video uploaded Wednesday morning, showing of