The Korea Herald

GM Korea gears up for new car launches

Feb 12, 2016

GM Korea is gearing up to launch new Chevrolet and Cadillac models in South Korea this year as it seeks to carve out a bigger slice of the local passenger vehicle market, industry sources said Friday.The plan is in line with the company’s ramped-up efforts to target the domestic market with more new models following a relatively successful year in 2015.“The most important objective for us is to grow in the domestic market first,” James Kim, the president of GM Korea, said in his New Year greetin
Korea to allow testing of driverless cars on roads from March

Feb 11, 2016

Driverless cars might be spotted on roads in Korea from March as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will start receiving applications for test drives of such cars from Friday. 　“With the move, the applicants -- companies or individuals -- will be able to test their autonomous driving technologies in the designated zones on the highway or city roads as early as in March,” Kim Chang-ki from the ministry said. 　To get approval for a test drive, applicants have to get insurance a
Hyundai gets nod for best Super Bowl ad

Feb 10, 2016

A Hyundai Motor commercial has been picked as the favorite advertisement aired during the U.S most-watched sporting event Super Bowl 50, the automaker said Wednesday.　The commercial, “First Date,” which features the Korean automaker’s Genesis sedan, ranked first in a poll conducted by USA TODAY, a national American daily.　Hyundai Motor said that it is the first foreign automaker in decades to emerge top in USA TODAY’s Ad Meter, beating 63 other Super Bowl 50 commercials. A screenshot of Hyundai
[Behind the Wheel] All-new K7: Masculine but soft

Feb 4, 2016

Kia’s new luxury sedan highlights contrasting features of power, comfort
AmorePacific offers immediate tax refunds to foreigners

Feb 4, 2016

South Korean beauty giant AmorePacific began offering immediate tax refunds to foreign nationals at select Aritaum, Innisfree and Etude stores in Seoul starting Thursday.　The service was launched in an aim to better serve Chinese consumers scheduled to visit Seoul during the Lunar New Year holidays, said AmorePacific.　The service is available at five Aritaum and six Innisfree stores in Myeong-dong and Gangnam; the Laneige flagship store in Myeong-dong; and six Etude stores in Sinchon, Jamsil, Do
[Photo News] Ssangyong Motor releases luxury sedan

Feb 2, 2016

JUMPING INTO RACE FOR LUXURY SEDANS -- Ssangyong Motor joined the competition in the luxury sedan market by launching its upgraded flagship Chairman sedan with the new name of Chairman W “Kaiser” on Tuesday. The price tag of Ssangyong’s facelifted chauffeur-driven luxury sedan with four trims ranges from 56 million won ($46,550) to 112 million won. (Ssangyong Motor)
[Photo News] Car of the Year

Jan 31, 2016

Hyundai Motor executive vice president Kwak Jin poses with an EQ900 sedan at a ceremony in Seoul on Friday after the first model of Hyundai Motor’s global luxury brand Genesis was awarded by the Korean Auto Journalists Association as the “Car of the year 2015.” (Hyundai Motor)
84-year-old Jaguar design keeps evolving

Jan 31, 2016

The world of 84-year-old British luxury carmaker Jaguar keeps changing. The one-time maker of archetypical sleek but masculine classic sports cars is now behind one of the trendiest and fashionable sports sedans under the direction of the master designer Ian Callum. The Scotsman on Monday said that keeping afloat in the changes and trends is essential.Master designer Ian Callum“You have to move,” Callum said at the launching event of the new, eighth-generation Jaguar XJ held on the day at the Do
Volvo targets Korea’s luxury car market

Jan 31, 2016

Volvo Cars has set its sights on emerging as a new, visible player in South Korea’s imported car market with the introduction of “Swedish luxury” to local customers this year.By launching its upgraded luxury sport utility vehicle XC90 and midsize luxury sedan S90 here in the coming months, Volvo expects 2016 to mark the beginning of its success as a luxury car brand in Korea.“2016 will be a pivotal year for Volvo Cars Korea,” said Lars Danielson, senior vice president of Volvo Cars’ Asia-Pacific
[Photo News] The New DS5 debuts

Jan 29, 2016

NEW DS5 DEBUTS -- Hanbul Motors, the Korean importer of Peugeot Citroen brands, started selling its premium brand DS’ crossover sedan, the New DS5, in Korea on Jan. 29. Equipped with a 2.0L BlueHDi 180 horsepower engine, the vehicle boasts a glass roof and a rear camera, as well as a luxurious interior inspired by an airplane cockpit. Prices start from 45.9 million won ($38,000). (Hanbul Motors)
GM Korea's pledge for 2016 sales

Jan 27, 2016

James Kim (center), chief executive officer of GM Korea, on Tuesday pledges for another great year of sales with its vehicle dealers at the company’s Chevrolet All-Agent Workshop on Jejudo Island. GM Korea sold a total of 158,404 cars in 2015, the highest since the company’s establishment in 2002. GM Korea
Kia targets 65,000 hybrid SUV sales

Jan 27, 2016

Kia Motors on Wednesday said it has set an annual sales target of 65,000 units of Niro, the company’s first hybrid compact SUV to be launched in March, leveraging on the global eco-friendly car boom. “We will launch the hybrid electric vehicle version of Niro this year, followed by a plug-in hybrid version next year. Beginning with Korea, the model will be sold in Europe, China and North America and we expect to sell 65,000 units a year worldwide,” said Han Chun-soo, executive vice president of
Kia Motors Q4 net drops 1.2% on weaker overseas demand

Jan 27, 2016

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's No. 2 automaker, said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter earnings dropped 1.2 percent on-year on weak demand in emerging markets and a one-off loss from its equity ties with affiliates.Its net profit reached 430.8 billion won ($359.5 million) during the October-December period compared with a profit of 436.2 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.Operating income grew 2.8 percent on-year to 514.4 billion won over the cited period and sa
Hyundai Motor leads Mexican import car market in 2015

Jan 27, 2016

South Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. emerged as the No. 1 import auto brand in Mexico in 2015, data showed Wednesday, beating other rivals less than two years after its debut in the country.Hyundai Motor sold 26,251 automobiles in Mexico last year, rising as the leading foreign brand without localized production facilities for the first time, industry data showed. The South Korean carmaker tapped the Mexican market in May 2014. French auto firm Renault S.A. and Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp
Kia sells record high, profits fall

Jan 27, 2016

Kia Motors reported Wednesday an on-year decline of 8.5% in its operating profits for 2015, although it posted record-high sales of 40.5 trillion won ($39 billion). The company sold 2,915,000 cars worldwide last year, however, the soaring marketing fees and fluctuating currency exchange rate dented its profits. (Yonhap)For 2015, Kia Motors reported an operating profit of 2.34 trillion won. Its net profit fell 12.1 percent to 2.63 trillion won.According to the company, 1.72 million units of cars