In a market segment dominated by domestic brand Hyundai and German luxury cars, Volkswagen is seeking a greater presence in the highly competitive sector by introducing its flagship model Arteon, the company’s Seoul branch said Wednesday. Volkswagen’s premium sedan Arteon (Volkswagen Korea)Arteon is a four-door coupe that combines design elements of classic sports car and fastback models. The premium model opens a new chapter in Volkswagen’s design history and is expected to be an exclusive prod

Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of Renault SA, on Monday launched the Master van in Korea as part of its effort to diversify its lineup. The Renault Master comes with a three-year power train and auto components' warranty for 100,000 kilometers, the company said in a statement.   (Renault Samsung Motors Corp. - Yonhap)The Master S version is priced at 29 million won ($26,000) and the Master L version carries a price tag of 31 million won, the statement said.The van is equippe

South Korean President Moon Jae-in test rode the Hyundai Motor Nexo fuel cell electric vehicle during his state visit to France on Sunday afternoon and observed the charging process of a Tucson FCEV taxi.This marked Moon’s second test ride on the Nexo SUV, following his firsthand experience of the SUV’s driverless technology in Seoul this February.South Korea’s No.1 carmaker Hyundai Motor is slated to sign a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday with French industrial gas supplier Air Liquide a

Mini car sales in South Korea fell to a 10-year low last month due to lower demand and reduced tax benefits, local carmakers' sales data showed Sunday. In September, sales of mini cars plunged to 8,627 units, the lowest figure since the 8,172 units in January 2009, according to sales data offered by the country's three carmakers.  (Yonhap)Mini car models, mostly with a 1.0-liter gasoline engine, sold in Korea include Kia Motors Corp.'s Morning and Ray, GM Korea Co.'s Chevrolet Spark and Renault

Getting a glimpse of the real world and experience in their field of interest is important for all students, especially for young artists who aspire to portray different aspects of life through their work.Han Sung Motor, the largest official dealer of Mercedes-Benz here, which initiated the CSR art project Dream Gream in 2012, participated in the 17th Korea International Art Fair earlier this month to broaden the horizons of young artists by enabling them to take part in one of Asia’s biggest ar

South Korean auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis is seeking collaboration with two local startups selected through its M.Start contest in an effort to gain the upper hand in in-demand mobility technologies, the company said Thursday.Genesis Lab and Linkflow were chosen among 155 candidates for their artificial intelligence-based image and voice recognition technologies.“The latest cooperation is aimed at advanced acquisition of innovative technology. Mobis will lead the market by boosting cooperation

Amid mounting tensions surrounding US automaker General Motors’ move to separate GM Korea’s research and development center as an independent body, conflict at the local unit is expected to deepen with the union, which is slated to hold a vote on staging a strike over the move.The issue also took center stage at Wednesday’s parliamentary inspection where politicians grilled related government officials and the carmaker.As GM Korea pushes forward its R&D center separation plan that has been in th

GONGJU, South Chungcheong Province -- Riding the wave of green cars, Kia Motors recently released its first fully electric vehicle, the Niro, highlighting its driving distance of 385 kilometers per charge -- enough to drive from Seoul to the southern port city Busan. South Korea’s roads, which until now have been packed with gasoline-powered sedans, mostly black or white in color, are going through a transition with the influx of eco-friendly cars such as electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electr

Carmaker’s Czech plant considers manufacturing green cars in line with growing market demand

Mercedes-Benz Korea, the local unit of the German luxury carmaker, has launched the AMG Driving Academy with an aim to make the AMG Speedway an automotive cultural complex, the company said Monday.Benz Korea’s latest program will begin in November by opening the AMG racetrack to a wider audience.“Participants of the program will not only experience the excitement of driving, but also learn safe driving skills and car racing techniques in an effective manner. Anyone who wishes to participate can

South Korea's auto exports fell 6.8 percent on-year in the first seven months of 2018, with outbound shipments declining across the board except in Europe, a local think tank said Sunday.The latest findings by the Institute for International Trade showed car export growth has been trailing off since 2011 and from 2016 onwards it has not been able to keep pace with total outbound shipment growth for the country as a whole. (Yonhap)In the January-July period, exports by Asia's fourth largest econo

SsangYong Motor has released a series of new models of sport utility vehicles with enhanced safety, performance and price competitiveness.Last month, the company launched the 2019 edition of its SUV Tivoli under the slogan of “I am me, I am Tivoli.”SsangYong Motor’s Tivoli Armour 2019 (SsangYong Motor)The special model features two colors -- orange pop and silky white pearl, to symbolize vitality, youth and energy. It also sports a newly designed hood, fender and door garnish, expanding the rang

Hyundai’s racing arm vies for championship titles in WRC, WTCR

The market presence of imported diesel cars in South Korea has backtracked in South Korea in the face of a comeback by gasoline vehicles, industry data showed Sunday.According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA), the number of newly registered diesel cars in the country reached 4,530 units in September, less than half that of gasoline vehicles -- 11,187. (Yonhap)In the first nine months of this year, 86,841 diesel vehicles were sold in Asia's fourth largest eco

South Korean carmaker considers producing electrified vehicles under its N brand