The Korea Herald

Renault Samsung debuts facelifted QM3

Dec 27, 2015

Renault Samsung Motors said it had released the 2016 QM3, facilitated with the Euro 6 engine that has dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions.　From its enhanced gas mileage of 17.7 kilometers per liter to advanced programs including the auto stop and start system, the best-selling compact sports utility car has some of the best features in the market.　And the price is still relatively low, starting from 22.3 million won ($19,000) by the end of the year, adjusted for the individual tax disc
Lotus finds niche with growth of sports cars

Dec 27, 2015

British racing carmaker will debut Evora 400, its fastest road car model, in Korea early next year
Seoul to probe fuel efficiency of Volkswagen cars

Dec 24, 2015

Despite emission cheating scandal, Tiguan named best-selling foreign car in KoreaThe government said on Thursday that it has reached a preliminary conclusion that the device that manipulated emissions levels of Volkswagen’s diesel vehicles is correlated to their fuel efficiency. In an analysis of test data provided by the Environment Ministry, the Transport Ministry learned that the defeat device software could have an impact on fuel efficiency, an official said. To confirm it, the ministry will
Volkswagen's Tiguan sales to top foreign brands despite tarnished image

Dec 24, 2015

German carmaker Volkswagen's Tiguan is on track to top foreign brands in terms of sales in South Korea this year despite its brand image being tarnished by the worldwide fake emission scandal, industry data showed Thursday.Its relatively cheap price and Volkswagen's ramped-up promotion efforts since September to tide over the crisis caused by the scandal attributed to the brisk sales.According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association and other industry data, Volkswagen Korea,
Kia Motors to showcase autonomous driving technology at CES

Dec 23, 2015

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-ranked automaker, plans to showcase its autonomous driving technology at a major consumer electronics exhibition to be held in the U.S. early next year, industry sources said Wednesday.Kia Motors plans to hold a press conference during the Consumer Electronics Show 2016 to be held in Las Vegas on Jan. 6-9 where it will display its autonomous driving and IT connectivity technology. It will also make a presentation on future direction in the field, according
Volkswagen Korea to recall 28,957 cars for defects

Dec 23, 2015

Volkswagen Korea will voluntarily recall 28,957 cars it sold in the country for safety-related mechanical defects, the government said Wednesday.The local unit of German auto giant Volkswagen said eight models had problems with clock springs that can cause the vehicle horn to malfunction and inadvertently trigger air bag warning lights to go, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said.This defect, in addition, can damage the air bag cables and prevent them from deploying during an a
Hyundai Sonata set to grab best-selling car title for 2nd year

Dec 22, 2015

Hyundai Motor Co.'s midsize sedan, the Sonata, is poised to win the best-selling Korean car title this year for the second consecutive year, industry data showed Tuesday.According to data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, domestic sales of the Sonata hit 95,760 units in the first 11 months of this year.Hyundai Motor's one-ton Porter truck and the Avante compact came in second and third, respectively, with 91,327 and 86,968 units sold during the cited period.With sales amountin
Hyundai Motor Group to buy back 23% stake in its auto financing unit

Dec 21, 2015

Despite continued pressure to sell financial arms to adopt a holding company system for more transparent governance structure, the automotive group decides to invest in auto financing business for growth
EQ900 gives glimpse of what autonomous driving will look like

Dec 21, 2015

Push the "smart" button on the door and it asks your height and weight. It analyzes the data for a moment and then optimizes the position of the seat before you hit the road.The engine cranks up but the inside remains calm. And when you step on the accelerator, it moves smoothly as if it slides forward on silk. Still, fasten your "mental" seat belt and brace for more, since these might be just the beginning of what you could experience from Hyundai Motor Co.'s newly-launched EQ900 flagship luxur
Hyundai, Kia Chinese market share to top 10% next year

Dec 21, 2015

Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors Corp. are likely to see their combined market share in China exceed 10 percent next year, driven by strong demand for their new models, industry data showed Monday.According to the data, the automakers' market share in China stood at 9.1 percent in November, the third highest after Volkswagen's 16.4 percent and GM's 12 percent.Last month's market share marks a rebound from the 7.2 percent in June, but still fell short of this year's record h
Genesis EQ900: Car is good, work to do on market positioning

Dec 20, 2015

The Genesis EQ900Hyundai MotorThere was much hype surrounding the Genesis EQ900, the first flagship sedan under Hyundai Motor Group’s newly launched premium standalone brand, Genesis. The world’s fifth-largest carmaker has put all its efforts in placing the brand on par with or beyond German luxury carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It has invited the press on five occasions to heat up the vibe while providing chauffeured test-drives around Seoul to potential customers. And the market has
Renault Samsung wins exporter award

Dec 17, 2015

The South Korean government awarded Renault Samsung Motors last week for its contribution to the national economy with its $2 billion in exports this year. The local unit of French auto firm Renault was the only multinational company among more than 1,000 winners at an event commemorating the 52nd annual Trade Day on Dec. 7 at Coex in southern Seoul.In contrast with the falling exports of other Korean automakers, Renault Samsung has achieved double-digit growth in exports every month from the sa
‘Auto industry to still face challenges in 2016’

Dec 15, 2015

Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo called for the conglomerate’s executives and employees to push ahead with changes next year despite challenges and difficulties facing the Korean automaker. “Economic indicators to gauge business conditions in advance show that the auto industry will continue to remain slow next year,” chairman Chung said in a meeting in Seoul with heads of overseas branches at Hyundai Motor on Tuesday. The car industry experienced difficulties due to a global economic
Ssangyong, union likely to settle 6-year dispute

Dec 15, 2015

Ssangyong Motor’s management and labor union have reached a tentative agreement to rehire a group of dismissed workers, a move widely seen here as a major breakthrough to end their six-year labor dispute. “The company took a critical step to end the prolonged labor conflict,” a company official said Monday. The agreement was made during tripartite talks among Ssangyong CEO Choi Johng-sik, union leader Hong Bong-seok and Kim Deuk-jung, a representative from the Korea Metal Workers’ Union. Kim has
Will Samsung make car again?

Dec 13, 2015

Samsung Electronics’ entry into the electric auto parts business is forecast to intensify competition for building self-driving cars in Korea between automakers and IT heavyweights