German luxury carmaker unveils new C-Class Coupe to loyal customers before official debut in April

GM Korea and its labor union have launched a joint task force that aims to support the company in achieving its goal of double-digit market share in 2016, the automaker said on Sunday. It is rare for the Korean unit of GM to gain cooperation from the labor union to achieve sales increase. (Yonhap)According to GM Korea, the task force will also include representatives from other areas, including domestic sales and government relations. It will have the authority to implement ideas approved at reg

The French carmaker Renault named Park Dong-hoon, the vice president of its Korean unit Renault Samsung Motors, as its new CEO, on Friday. It is the first time in Renault Samsung’s 16-year-history -- since its inception in 2000 – that it will be led by a Korean CEO. The current CEO Francois Provost has been promoted to Renault’s senior vice president of China operations. In addition, he will lead the Dongfeng Renault Automotive. Provost is also waiting for an approval of his seat in the board of

Ssangyong Motor models pose with models at a launch event for the Tivoli Air, the long-body version of the firm’s compact Tivoli SUV, in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)Ssangyong Motor, the Korean unit of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, launched the diesel-fueled long-body version of its best-selling compact Tivoli crossover Tuesday, targeting the growing compact SUV market. “The Tivoli Air, which evolved from the luxurious and stylish brand of the original crossover, boasts more enhanced utility feature

Shareholders of Hyundai Motor approved the third term of the automaker’s vice chairman Chung Eui-sun’s board membership at its annual general meeting Friday. As a registered board director of Hyundai Motor responsible for management issues, the heir apparent of the group is expected to spur the global launch of G90 (EQ900 in Korea), the first model of Genesis, its independent premium brand.  Chung Eui-sunIndustry watchers said he will also focus on capitalizing on the carmaker’s green car projec

In almost every episode of U.S. television sitcom hit “Home Improvement” in the 1990s, viewers were able to see its main star Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor played by stand-up comedian Tim Allen building and tuning a classic hot rod in his garage with his eldest son.They would chat, giggle and joke around, telling stories to one another while tending to their dream hot rod.Even in movies like “The Fast and the Furious” about a band of criminal street racers, its main character Dominic Toretto’s favor

Hundreds of college students study auto mechanical engineering, design and new auto technologies such as hybrid and self-driving cars in Korea every year.But only very few land jobs in tuning, which is one of the most lucrative auto fields in countries such as the U.S., Germany and Japan. This is because the Korean tuning market is extremely small for several reasons including tough regulations against tuning in the country’s automotive aftermarket, lack of industry promotions and opportunities,

In South Korea, car tuning -- the aftermarket modification of an automobile’s performance or appearance -- has long been portrayed under a negative light as an unnecessary practice that disturbs peace and order on the streets.　Although many still associate vehicle tune-ups with noisy, sometimes reckless, cars sporting ostentatious exteriors, there is reportedly a lot more to car tuning than looks alone.　“What most people don’t know is that the biggest merit of tuning up a car is ‘safety’,” said

Regulations, misperception impede development of car modification industry　

The Korean unit of German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz may face a probe by the prosecutor’s office over the submission of false specifications of its high-end lineup of S-Class S350 models, the authorities said Friday.The Transport Ministry announced that it would soon file a complaint of a possible violation involved.Before the sales, Mercedes-Benz Korea notified the ministry that the S350 model came equipped with a seven-speed transmission. But the vehicle had a nine-speed transmission instal

Car lovers turn to customizing their ride to be distinctive

The 2016 Seoul Auto Salon, the country’s largest custom car and accessories show, will take place this summer from July 7 to 10 at Coex in southern Seoul. The trade fair is the largest auto aftermarket show in Korea, displaying tuned cars and other parts and accessories used to modify vehicles. 2015 Seoul Auto Salon (SAS)Starting with 82 exhibiting companies and 51,000 visitors in 2003, the auto show has indeed increased in scale over the past 13 years to an expected 130 companies and estimated

DEBUT OF BULLET TRAIN BOUND FOR 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS VENUE -- A high-speed train line for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, debuts in the Changwon plant on Thursday. The high-speed train will transfer visitors for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics from Incheon to Gangneung in just two hours. Hyundai Rotem held a ceremony today, explaining it would conduct test runs until 2017. The railway is expected to be opened by 2018. (Hyundai Rotem)