The government said Sunday it will kick off a detailed probe into the fires that affected vehicles made by German luxury carmaker BMW, with civilian experts allowed to join the effort.The move comes after BMW last month announced it will voluntarily recall 106,317 vehicles to fix a faulty component that may be causing fires in the engine area of 42 different models. The company said it already checked 15,337 vehicles, with a further 36,606 cars on its waiting list.A total of 32 cars made by the

Kia Motors Corp. beat its rivals to win the J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout award for its Stinger sports sedan, the company said Saturday.The Stinger fastback sports sedan won the J.D. Power APEAL award, beating Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan, BMW's 3 and 4 series in the compact premium car segment, Kia Motors said in a statement. Kia Stinger (Yonhap)Kia Rio also earned the APEAL award in the subcompact segment, beating the Chevrolet Bolt, Toyota Motors Corp.'s Prius C and H

BMW Korea, the local importer and distributor of the German luxury carmaker, is under growing pressure from the government and public to submit technical and auto parts documents to narrow down the reason for engine fires.“We urge BMW to take a responsible stance in the issue and provide substitute cars for owners alongside documents related to auto parts and technology promptly,” the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Friday.BMW Korea is scheduled to transfer the documents cont

The Ministry of Transport and Land on Friday advised the owners of BMW 520d sedans to refrain from driving the vehicle, citing safety issues.“(We advise) owners of the vehicles subject for recall to receive a safety check up as soon as possible and refrain from driving the vehicle until safety is ensured,” said Sohn Byeong-seok, the first transport vice minister.While apologizing for causing public concern, the vice minister said that the government would conduct a thorough investigation into th

Hyundai Motor has launched a campaign and programs tailored for female drivers in Saudi Arabia, joining a slew of global automakers eyeing a stake in the market to hike up sales in the region, the company said Thursday.During the company’s meeting of overseas representatives held last month, Hyundai said it would bolster sales in the Middle East in the second half of the year by targeting the Saudi Arabia market where a ban on female driving was lifted on June 24. A task force has been set up th

Another automobile produced by German carmaker BMW 520d sedan caught fire while being driven on a local expressway on Thursday, further fueling safety concerns.Police said the vehicle caught fire at 11:47 a.m. in Gangwon Province in eastern South Korea.BMW Korea said late last month it will recall 106,000 automobiles after several 520d sedans caught fire. The massive recall will cover 42 different models, including the diesel-powered passenger car. (Yonhap)The German carmaker has identified exha

BMW and the importers of Ferrari and Lamborghini models will voluntarily recall 270 vehicles to fix faulty components, the transport ministry said Thursday. The move is part of the latest series of recalls by carmakers and importers to ensure vehicles meet safety requirements.  (Yonhap)The three companies plan to recall 10 different models totaling 270 vehicles. The models are the Ferrari California sports car imported by Forza Motors Korea and the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Coupe imported by

BMW Korea, the local importer and distributor of the German carmaker, will provide free car rentals for vehicle owners affected by its voluntary recall issued last week, the company said Wednesday.Owners of the 106,317 vehicles recalled related to an issue with engines catching fire will be able to rent cars free of charge in accordance with Korea’s standard auto insurance policy.In efforts to contain further incidents, BMW Korea plans to complete checkups on about 7,000 BMW vehicles that have b

SK Innovation rose six ranks on a list of this year’s global top 50 chemical companies complied by Chemical & Engineering News magazine, backed by its drive to beef up its chemical venture beyond its oil refinery business, the company said Wednesday.According to Chemical & Engineering News, published by the American Chemical Society, SK Innovation ranked No. 38 out of 50 global chemical firms, climbing up six notches compared to last year and showing the second-biggest improvement among the surv

Faulty EGR cooler blamed, but some suggest systematic fallout

Amid escalating controversy over some BMW vehicles that allegedly caught fire without external factors here, a fire reportedly started in the engine of a Lamborghini Aventador, burning nearly half of the vehicle, according to authorities and news reports Tuesday.According to the local fire department, a car fire broke out in the rear engine of the 2013 model year Aventador on a road in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, around 2:08 p.m. Monday. The driver pulled over to the shoulder after detecting the fire t

Hyundai Motor’s fourth-generation midsize sport utility vehicle Sante Fe is revamped for the first time in six years, geared with features for higher convenience and cutting edge safety suits.Like the Kona small SUV, the new Santa Fe also carries Hyundai’s trademark features of enlarged and contemporary exterior. The family SUV carries Hyundai’s signature hexagonal cascading grille and a composite light with light emitting diode daytime running lights placed on top of LED headlights.The enlarged

BMW Korea, the local importer and distributer of the German carmaker, vowed to complete the inspection of more than 100,000 vehicles suspected of having faulty parts by operating its service centers nationwide 24 hours a day for the next two weeks.In an announcement released Monday afternoon, the company said that all vehicles subject to its voluntary recall would go through an hourlong inspection service and that the parts would be replaced. Alternative vehicles will be provided during inspecti

Hands Corporation, a local aluminum wheel manufacturer, will complete construction of a factory in Morocco by 2024 with aims to expand its presence in Europe, the company said Monday. The company had announced construction of the Morocco factory in August last year and the groundbreaking ceremony was held in April.“By cooperating with the Moroccan government, we will do our best to become an example of successful expansion there. Also our goal is to post 1 trillion won ($895 million) in earnings

Speculations arise that BMW concealed defects; local branch of German carmaker denies claim