Fiat Chrysler Korea confirmed Monday that President Pablo Rosso has been suspended following allegations of sexual harassment, verbal abuse and assault.  To ensure the integrity of the investigation is upheld, Pablo Rosso has been temporarily suspended from his duties as managing director of FCA Korea, the automaker said. "FCA does not tolerate any form of harassment, abuse or discrimination of our employees or business partners. It is the company’s policy to both immediately

Samsung Heavy Industries said Monday it has become the first shipbuilder to seek approval for its 3D model-based ships from American Bureau of Shipping. ABS sets standards for safety and excellence as one of the world‘s leading ship classification organizations. The South Korean shipbuilder said it began using the design techniques since 2016 but has taken an extra step for approval from ABS. “Shipbuilders must obtain approval from a classification society for the design of ship

South Korea's auto output sank nearly 20 percent to an 11-year low in the first half of the year due to the coronavirus outbreak, industry data showed Monday. Industry leader Hyundai Motor Co. and four other automakers produced 1.63 million vehicles in the January-June period, down 19.8 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA). It was the lowest figure since the 1.53 million units produced in the first half of 2009. The sha

HDC Hyundai Development Co. on Sunday called for an additional round of due diligence on Asiana Airlines as it reaffirmed its interest to close the $2.2 billion deal to take over the country’s second-largest full-service airline. However, this move is casting doubts over the successful closure of the mega-deal to acquire Asiana considering the aggravating financial situation of the airline amid the protracted COVID-19 impact on the aviation industry. The midsized construction unit of H

INJE, Gangwon Province -- There are no remarkable changes to the exterior, but the revamped version of the Renault Samsung Motors flagship midsized sedan SM6 does appear to have been “reborn with a new heart,” as the automaker describes it. Ambitiously presenting the face-lifted model of the SM6 last week, Renault Samsung Motors invited reporters to the Inje Speedium, a 3.91-kilometer circuit in Gangwon Province, on July 16 to test-drive the car on the track and nearby winding roa

High-profile M&A deal falls apart, further dampens mood of aviation industry

Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor posted half of its operating profit in the second quarter from a year earlier. But the earnings still came above market expectations due to the launch of new models. 　 Hyundai Motor’s operating profit fell 52 percent to 590 billion won ($493 million) and sales dropped 19 percent to 21.86 trillion won, according to the firm’s regulatory filings Thursday. Net profit fell 62 percent to 377 billion won. The automaker said, “The globa

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, traffic for the world’s busiest air route between Seoul and Jeju fell by nearly 30 percent during the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year. Nearly 5.59 million passengers made trips on the route between January and June – a 31 percent drop from last year’s figure of 8.18 million, according to data from Korea Airports Corporation, a public enterprise behind Gimpo Airport. In a report from aviation analys

South Korea’s flag carrier Korean Air said Tuesday it has closed its regional headquarters in Europe and Southeast Asia in an effort to “streamline” business operations as the coronavirus pandemic continues. A company official said the move was made to respond to the “changing business environment more quickly and effectively.” The work that had been undertaken by the regional headquarters will be handled by other regional branches. “We will create a globa

South Korea said Tuesday it plans to send businessmen on chartered flights to Vietnam and China this week as the new coronavirus pandemic has virtually suspended global air traffic, disrupting their travels. Under the plan, around 570 businessmen from 240 companies will start being sent to Vietnam on chartered airplanes Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Through August, South Korea plans to send 1,500 workers to the Southeast Asian nation. The flight to Chin

Heirs of South Korea's top two conglomerates -- Samsung and Hyundai Motor -- will discuss possible cooperation in the electric vehicle (EV) and mobility businesses, the groups said Tuesday. Lee Jae-yong, Samsung's de facto leader, shared his views on future mobility solutions with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun following his visit to the automaker's Namyang Research & Development Center in Hwaseong, south of Seoul.  Lee was accompanied by Samsung Electronic

South Korea’s rental service firm SK Rent-a-Car said Monday it has launched a rental service for Tesla Model 3 at its 10 branches in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province “As demand for electric vehicles continues to increase, we have recently released new products of Tesla, the most favored EV of customers,” a company official said. A total of 21 Tesla Model 3 units will be offered as short-term rental cars. Customers can make reservations through the firm’s website or custome

Volvo Cars Korea said Monday it will no longer offer pure diesel or gasoline cars starting with its 2021 models and instead sell only hybrid cars. According to the automaker, Volvo cars will be available only in mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicles starting with its 2021 models in Korea, as it aims to become carbon neutral by 2040. Korea will be the first country where Volvo won’t sell pure diesel cars at all, the company said. Volvo Cars Korea will replace D5, T4, T5 and T6 inte

Incheon International Airport Corp. says it is not going forward with a mythical bird-inspired logo for the corporation’s 20th anniversary next year after a leaked image online drew criticism. In an emailed statement on Sunday, the company confirmed it had ditched the new corporate identity design after “considering the majority’s opinions.” “It’s regretful that the draft was misreported as an official one,” the company said as it explained it was one

SsangYong Motor on Monday unveiled a teaser image of its first electric vehicle, which has been developed under the project name “E100.” The automaker’s new, electric subcompact sport utility vehicle is set to be released in the first half of next year. Prior to the launch of the new EV, the automaker released an image that graphically expresses its exterior design. The firm said the overall design is based on a streamlined line that reflects aerodynamics optimized for urban