GM Korea on Wednesday named James Kim, the current CEO of Microsoft Korea, as its new president and chief operating officer. He will begin his duties from June 15. Kim will report directly to GM Korea president and chairman of the board Sergio Rocha. He will overlook the overall value chain as well as other administrative matters of the company. Industry watchers forecast that Kim will take the helm of GM Korea following Rocha. “James has an outstanding track record as a leader at technology, co

German carmakers’ growth in preowned car market sets precedent for foreign luxury brands

A sense of crisis is escalating at Hyundai Motor as sales by the nation’s largest carmaker fell in its two biggest overseas markets ― China and the U.S. ― in May. Shares of Hyundai Motor plunged 10.36 percent to 138,500 won ($124.8) on Tuesday, affected by lackluster sales at home and abroad. The stock hit a four-year low. On Monday, Hyundai Motor said its domestic and overseas sales fell 8.2 percent and 6.1 percent last month, respectively, from the same period a year ago. The disappointing sal

GM Korea president and CEO Sergio Rocha vowed Friday to break the glass ceiling and encourage more women staff members to climb the managerial ladder. “In accordance with the global GM strategy of nurturing female leadership, GM Korea has been pushing various policies to increase the ratio of females among workers and support their career path as leaders for the past 10 years,” Rocha said during his meeting with about 300 female employees of the company.  “The company will put all efforts in pro

Carmakers are investing in telematics technology, allowing users to control cars through their smart devices including smartphones. Often perceived as a gateway to driver-less driving, telematics technology allows drivers to “communicate” with their cars without manipulating the car itself, from sharing simple conversations to starting the engine, calling for emergency help and more.  Check and diagnoseVolvo Truck’s “My Truck” service and Hyundai Motor’s “Blue Link” self-examines the car’s syste

Chung receives honorary doctorate from his alma mater

Forget about the dark and heavy-body image of Rolls-Royce. The British supercar is now enticing the youth with its customized policies, said Michael Alexander Schneider, general manager of Asia-Pacific at Rolls Royce Motor Cars. “We have a history of 120 years, but we are also very fond of our future. We are giving the brand cooler and luxurious appeals within our lineup, and whatever we do will greatly help the new customer groups,” he said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday. Sch

A growing demand for diversity and self-expression is creating new trends in many industries in Korea as its economy matures. The nation’s car industry, long dominated by large domestic carmakers like Hyundai and Kia, is no exception. The latest consumer demand is boosting the sales of foreign cars in Korea. Industry watchers forecast the market share of foreign carmakers in the Korean automotive market will hit a record high of 20 percent by the year-end. It has also created a demand for busine

Behind every successful global firm is the fusion of excellent design and well-fitting marketing strategies, according to the CEO of Han Sung Motor ― the largest Mercedes-Benz dealer in South Korea.“What almost all successful global companies have (in common) is that they have great design and great marketing,” said Ulf Ausprung during a lecture delivered Thursday to students studying marketing communication at Yonsei University.“The key message is that design creates great products, and with go