The Korea Herald

Ford Sollers Russia venture cuts production

Aug 11, 2013

Ford Motor Co.’s Russian carmaking partnership with OAO Sollers is reducing production and cutting jobs in response to a decline in the vehicle market this year.The Ford Sollers plant near St. Petersburg, the country’s second-largest city, is suspending manufacturing for a combined 20 days from August through September, and will drop one of its three daily shifts after that, the venture said today in an e-mail. Talks are under way with labor unions on the workforce reductions, it said. A spokesw
Lamborghini sees potential here for sporty two-seaters

Aug 11, 2013

Lamborghini, one of the most luxurious supercar makers in the world considered to have an advantage from being more affordable than others, sees much potential in the Korean market.“Korea is a very important market. But for the rich people, we are not on their shopping list. We have to be on that list. They can buy Mercedes, BMWs and Porsches, but we are not in there yet. Some do (buy super cars) but it’s not large enough in proportion to the size of the Korean economy,” said Akio Takemura, sale
[Photo News] Super car

Aug 6, 2013
[Photo News] Jaguar F-TYPE release

Aug 5, 2013
BMW chips away at 2013 Mercedes U.S. sales lead with July gain

Aug 4, 2013

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG boosted U.S. sales of its 3 Series cars and X5 sport-utility vehicles last month, helping the automaker narrow the luxury-vehicle lead of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz. Deliveries of the BMW brand rose 13 percent in July to 24,043, while Mercedes reported a gain of 23 percent from a year earlier to 23,648, according to statements Thursday. Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus posted a 26 percent increase to 23,031. The monthly results trim Mercedes’s lead this year to 1,124 vehicl
GM names Tim Lee as China chief for biggest car expansion

Aug 4, 2013

General Motors Co., the largest foreign automaker in China, has named Tim Lee as the chairman of its Chinese unit as the U.S. company gears up for expansion in the world’s largest auto market. Lee, who was the head of GM’s international operations, will oversee 12 joint ventures and more than 55,000 employees in the newly created position, the Detroit-based company said in a statement on its website. Lee, 62, will keep his position as executive vice president of global manufacturing, with Bob So
New Audi A7 thrills in comfort

Aug 4, 2013

All things aside, the new Audi A7 TFSI Quattro beats out many a rival in the segment for family cars. To be frank, I didn’t pay much notice to design and space as Audi is consistently above par in terms of form and quality. However, the fastback roofline on the new A7 is one of the sexiest curves I’ve seen on a car. Performance eclipsed the sizzling design for me, as the drive in this vehicle was one of the most solid and satisfying that still seemed ideal for family outings. A chief part of the
Kia Cadenza makes successful U.S. debut

Aug 2, 2013

Kia Motors America, the U.S. sales arm of South Korea’s Kia Motors Corp., said Thursday that sales of its Cadenza full-size luxury sedan surpassed the 1,000 unit mark for the second time, a development that is widely seen as a successful debut in the U.S.Kia introduced the Cadenza in the United States in April as part of its efforts to enter the country’s premium car market. Kia sold 1,627 Cadenza units in the U.S. in July, bringing the total number of Cadenza units sold this year to 3,155, acco
Toyota facing Japan slump

Jul 28, 2013

Toyota Motor Corp. is facing a Japan problem. The company, based in Toyota City, Japan, was outsold by General Motors Co. for the first time in six quarters, as deliveries in Japan extended their decline after government incentives for fuel-efficient models expired last year. Toyota and its subsidiaries sold 2.48 million vehicles during the quarter ended June, just shy of the 2.49 million that Detroit-based GM disclosed earlier this month. Japan’s largest automaker sold 8.4 percent fewer vehicle
France blocks Mercedes compact registrations over coolant

Jul 28, 2013

Daimler AG, the world’s third-biggest maker of luxury vehicles, is barred from registering its Mercedes-Benz compact models in France because regulators have stopped accepting a coolant fluid used in the vehicles. The Mercedes A- and B-Class as well as the CLA coupe can’t be registered in the country as they use a refrigerant that no longer meets to European Union environmental regulations, the Ministry of Ecology, Development and Energy said in a statement. Daimler said that it plans legal acti
The ultimate Porsche experience

Jul 28, 2013

Design★★★★★Interior★★★★★Engine★★★★★Fuel economy★★☆☆☆Cost and A/S★★★☆☆If there ever was a car to die for, it might be a Porsche. Not just any Porsche but the 911 Carrera S, which is easily anyone’s dream car for two (the back seats are off limits in Korea). I won’t go into the stares I received while driving around in this stunning yellow vehicle as I’m having a hard enough time as it is trying to be objective about the Porsche experience. I won’t dwell too much on how it looks, because we all kn
All-new Lincoln MKZ raises bar

Jul 28, 2013

Ford’s best-seller allures with style, performance and a lower price-tag
Hyundai Motor Q2 profit beats estimates on China, Brazil sales

Jul 25, 2013

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest carmaker, reported second-quarter profit that beat analysts’ estimates, helped by sales in China and Brazil.Net income, excluding minority interests, fell to 2.4 trillion won ($2.15 billion) from 2.45 trillion won a year earlier, the Seoul-based company said in a statement Thursday. Profit beat the 2.37 trillion won average of 15 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Revenue increased 5.7 percent to 23.2 trillion won.Demand for the Elantra Yuedong se
[Photo News] New Sportage

Jul 23, 2013
Korea loses top spot in wireless Internet penetration

Jul 21, 2013

South Korea is no longer the most wired country in the world, an OECD report showed Sunday. Finland overtook Korea in terms of wireless broadband penetration as of 2012, with Korea’s ranking falling to the fourth out of 34 OECD members.This is the first time that Korea lost the top spot since the OECD started collecting relevant data in 2009.According to the OECD statistics, the number of wireless broadband subscriptions was 103.4 per 100 people in Korea last year.Finland took the top spot with