Toyota Korea on Wednesday launched the fifth-generation Prius in South Korea. The Japanese carmaker's signature hybrid model comes in two different powertrains: a 2.0-liter hybrid electric vehicle boasting fuel efficiency of 20.9 kilometers per liter and a 2.0-liter plug-in HEV capable of driving up to 64 km on battery only. The starting prices of the HEV and PHEV models are set at 39.9 million won ($30,350) and 46.3 million won, respectively. (Toyota Korea)

A recent report showed that Germany, the largest European automotive market, is expected to see a drop in electric vehicle sales this year for the first time in seven years, piling pressure on Korean battery makers who have operated core businesses in the all-important region. From January to November, the number of EVs sold in Germany decreased 5 percent on-year to 627,000 units, according to a report from Eugene Investment & Securities. In November alone, the country witnessed a 39 percent

Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia on Monday unveiled a new tire technology that promises to improve winter driving safety and convenience by offering an automatic, hassle-free alternative to traditional snow chains. The patented technology integrates snow chains into the tire using a shape memory alloy. Traditional snow chains, known for their cumbersome installation and removal process, often deter drivers from using them. This new technology enables automatic deployment and retraction o

Porsche Korea CEO Holger Gerrmann has been appointed as an honorary foreign citizen of Seoul, the German automaker's Korean office said Monday. "Blending historical landmarks and modern cityscapes and combining vibrant cultural diversity, Seoul is a city that inspires dreamers and is full of positive energy for the future," Gerrmann said in a statement. "As a representative of the corporate citizens and a citizen of Seoul, I will continue to fulfill my social responsibilities

Toyota Motor Korea and LG Uplus, the nation’s main telecommunications carrier, have joined hands to build an electric vehicle charging network in line with the electrification megatrend, the companies said Monday. Under the memorandum of understanding, the mobile carrier agreed to supply its EV charging platform named Voltup to the automaker. Launched last year, Voltup is an independent EV charger business led by LG Uplus. The mobile carrier takes care of the launch, management and custome

French automaker maps out brand uplift, launch of new hybrid vehicle Aurora 1

LG Energy Solutions and the nation's top-ranked Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology have made a significant discovery in lithium metal battery technology, as revealed in a research paper in the prestigious journal Nature Energy, potentially increasing electric vehicle range by 50 percent and drastically enhancing battery efficiency and lifespan. The discovery stems from a collaboration that began over two years ago at the Frontier Research Laboratory, a joint venture between

Samsung SDI said Thursday it has set up a team dedicated to pushing forward the development of the next generation all-solid-state batteries. All-solid-state batteries are called “game changer batteries,” in which all the components are solid. Theoretically, they have higher levels of energy density and are more stable than lithium-ion batteries using liquid or polymer gel electrolytes. The new “ASB business team,” headed by Go Joo-young, executive vice president and he

BMW on course to overtake Mercedes-Benz for 1st time since 2015

Posco Future M said Wednesday its Pohang plant in North Gyeongsang Province had started the supply of high-nickel cathode materials to the US-based Ultium Cells, the joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors. Following its manufacturing plant in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, the Pohang site is the company’s second production base for high-nickel cathode materials. With the fast-growing demand for the materials from battery makers, it has moved up the schedule for commercia

Posco International announced Wednesday it has signed a contract worth 300 billion won ($229 million) to supply electric vehicle parts to an American manufacturer, ramping up its presence in the green vehicles industry. Under the contract, Posco International will supply electric vehicle reducers to a major automaker based in the US from 2024 until 2032. The company declined to reveal the name of the client, citing deal conditions. A reducer can adjust the rotational speed to increase the torque

Hyundai Motor Group said Wednesday that its premium brand's all-electric sports utility vehicle, the Genesis GV60, has been named the 2024 China SUV of the Year. According to the carmaker, the car won the top honor by a wide margin as it received a total score of 186, while the Lotus Eletre and the Geely Galaxy L7 received 121 and 107 points, respectively, among some 80 competitors. (Hyundai Motor Group)

South Korean carmaker Hyundai and its sibling firm Kia have topped the list of exporters in Korea, posting a record-high of $54.5 billion in total export volume, Hyundai Motor Group said Tuesday. Among 1,700 companies here, Hyundai and Kia ranked first and second place, respectively, the highest record since 2012 when the two recorded $350 billion in exports. From July 2022 to June this year, Hyundai’s exports surged on-year 29.6 percent to $31 billion, while Kia saw a 30.7 percent jump to

Hyundai Motor Group said Tuesday that it donated 30 vehicles and 105 electric wheelchairs and electric scooters to encourage mobility for people with disabilities. The South Korean automaker has carried out the corporate social responsibility activity since 2011. According to the firm, the accumulated amount of donations has reached 7.9 billion won ($6 million) so far. The donations have been delivered to various associations and federations that support disabled people across the country. (Hyun

Hanwha Momentum, a supplier of manufacturing facilities and equipment for batteries, solar panels and displays, hosted its 2023 Hanwha Battery Day on Monday to reveal the company's strategies and technological road map in response to burgeoning global demand for secondary battery manufacturing equipment. During the event, CEO Yang Ki-won unveiled an ambitious target of 1.4 trillion won ($1.07 billion) in sales solely from secondary battery process equipment solutions by 2027. The company&