US automaker General Motors Co. said Friday it will recall Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles equipped with batteries produced in LG Energy Solution Ltd.'s South Korean factory to update its battery software and ease fire risks. The recall covers about 69,000 Bolt EVs for the 2017-2019 model years, installed with LG's batteries made from its factory in Ochang, 120 kilometers south of Seoul. About 9,500 units were sold in South Korea, the Korean unit of GM said. Dealers will install "advan

Imported car brands including Tesla Korea, Mercedes-Benz Korea and BMW Korea will recall 13,797 vehicles to fix faulty components, the Transport Ministry said Thursday. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Tesla Korea will recall 561 units of the Model S it imported and sold here, which are installed with a flash memory device with tight capacity. It has been found that the lack of flash memory capacity can cause a malfunction in the touch-screen dashboard, rear ca

The buyers of Hyundai Motor Co.'s Ioniq 5 all-electric car could face lack of state subsidies for EV purchases as a global chip shortage affects the model's production, industry sources said Thursday. Hyundai began the delivery of the Ioniq 5 on Thursday but still lacks traction motors essential to manufacture the new model. The company has received about 40,000 preorders for the Ioniq 5 since Feb. 25 and was planning to produce 10,000 units in April to meet demand. But it cut the output targe

Mercedes-Benz Korea, BMW Korea and five other companies will voluntarily recall nearly 14,000 vehicles to fix faulty components, the transport ministry said Thursday. This is the latest in a series of recalls by carmakers operating in South Korea and vehicle importers due to problems with vehicle components. The seven companies -- which include Honda Korea Co., Tesla Korea, MAN Truck & Bus Korea Ltd. and Hanbul Motors, which imports vehicles of France's PSA Group -- are recalling a combine

Amid growing competition over “smart” technologies in the automotive industry, Jaguar Land Rover Korea has presented its latest Range Rover Evoque equipped with the newest features to meet the expectations of tech-savvy Korean customers. The Korean unit of the British automaker rolled out the revamped model of the Range Rover Evoque, a compact sport utility vehicle, earlier this month. The new Range Rover Evoque implements Pivi Pro, which is an award-winning infotainment system

Mercedes-Benz Korea premiered the new 7th generation S-Class here on Wednesday, presenting the model’s first complete makeover in seven years. “More than 130-year-long heritage of craftsmanship and innovative technologies are the quintessence of the new S-Class,” said Thomas Klein, the president and the chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz Korea, said during the car’s local launch at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. The model was first unveiled globally in a dig

Mercedes-Benz Korea is steadily growing its social outreach programs to support local communities here, cementing its position as a corporate social responsibility leader among imported car brands. In the past six years following the launch of the programs in 2014, the Korean unit of the German automaker has donated a total of 30.1 billion won ($27 million), it said. That is among the top donations made by an imported car brand here, the company added. In 2020, Mercedes-Benz Korea donated ab

German luxury car brand Porsche had its best year in Korea in 2020, selling a record number of vehicles, the company said Thursday. Porsche Korea’s 2020 sales surpassed 1 trillion won ($900 million) for the first time since it set up a business presence here in 2014. With 7,779 units sold, South Korea was the automaker’s fifth-largest market in terms of annual sales, following China, North America, Germany and the UK, the company said. “Last year was a milestone, as more

Low-cost carrier Jeju Air said on Thursday it will resume the flights between Incheon and Saipan late next month. The decision to fly again to the western Pacific island from May 28 comes after a hiatus of over one year. Around March last year, airlines including Jeju Air suspended flights to multiple destinations across the world including Saipan as the number of coronavirus cases began to increase. Though the move will help Korean nationals living in Saipan as well as travelers, a mandatory

Jeju Air Co., South Korea's biggest budget carrier by sales, said Thursday it will resume flights to Saipan late next month in a preemptive measure to absorb post-coronavirus travel demand. Jeju Air plans to reopen the Incheon-Saipan route on May 28 upon permission from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, a company spokesman said over the phone. "The transport ministry is in consultations with the health authorities to decide whether to approve one flight a week on the r

Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's largest automotive conglomerate, is mulling the sale of its railway business affiliate, industry sources said Tuesday. The group is considering selling Hyundai Rotem's loss-making railway business, according to the sources. Hyundai Motor, the group's crown jewel, is the largest shareholder in Hyundai Rotem, having held a 33.77 percent stake as of last year, which is estimated to value around 1 trillion won ($897 million) with the management premium.  Hy

Low-cost carrier T’way Air said Tuesday it has signed a deal to lease three midsized aircrafts A330-300 with plans to roll them out early next year. The plan will see the airline introduce a new fleet of aircrafts gradually between February and May in 2022. With the jetliner boasting a wide body, the airline will offer business and economy seats and a wider range of in-flight amenities. The airline said the move following the signing of a letter of intent in December will bolster its bu

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition, the 2020 limited-edition model, adds a little more fun to design

Into its fifth year of running the social outreach project Porsche Do Dream, Porsche Korea is expanding the scheme to support artists facing difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic, the automaker said Monday. The Porsche Do Dream campaign, launched in 2017, has so far focused on children, bent on providing them with learning and playing opportunities. On top of that, this year’s program will include art projects or projects tailored for struggling artists, it said. “Over the pas

South Korean automotive group shows determination to expand electric powertrain lineup in China