Amid slowing EV sales, Korean firms adjust production volume, brace for price war against cheaper Chinese batteries

SK Battery America, SK On’s US subsidiary, will furlough workers at its battery plant in Jackson County, Georgia, and cut down production amid the sluggish electric vehicle market, the South Korean battery maker said Tuesday. “SK Battery America is temporarily adjusting its line operations and furloughing a portion of our production employees,” said SK On. “We have taken the decision as a part of our efforts to optimize line operations and workforce management with flexib

Hyundai Motor Company said Tuesday that the automaker has set up repair and check-up services for its electric vehicles at over 1,000 repair shops across the country. Named Bluehands, the repair shops have a separate station designed for EVs and at least one technician who has received the Hyundai Master Certification Program Electrified, a company-approved certificate for EV maintenance. The automaker said it plans to keep the EV maintenance services going at Bluehands for EV owners. (Hyundai M

Until five years ago, carmakers were hesitant to introduce cybersecurity measures in vehicles despite being aware of their necessity due to cost issues. However, when the European Union introduced cybersecurity regulations in 2022, it became virtually impossible to enter the European market without meeting the new standards. The change has made cybersecurity an essential element to ensure the survival of carmakers. The advancements in vehicle software, diversification of vehicles’ function

Carmaker’s first plant at home in 29 years to become operational in 2026

Hyundai Motorsport's customer racing team BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse scored its fourth win of the season at the eighth round of the 2023 Kumho TCR World Tour, at the Mount Panorama Motor Racing circuit in Australia over the weekend, the South Korean automaker said Monday. Driver Norbert Michelisz crossed the finish line first in Race 2 in his Elantra N TCR to secure his third victory of the season. (Hyundai Motor Group)

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group stands as the second-largest player in the U.S. market for electric vehicles (EVs) despite concerns surrounding Washington's protectionism policy, data showed Sunday. Hyundai Motor Co. took up 4.8 percent of the U.S. EV market in the January-September period, with its smaller sister Kia Corp. accounting for 2.7 percent, according to U.S. magazine Automotive News. Their combined market share came to 7.5 percent, or 64,000 units, taking up the second-l

KG Mobility’s new electric SUV boasts affordable price, large luggage room for camping

Sales of diesel automobiles built by local manufacturers fell more than 20 percent on-year through the third quarter of 2023, data showed Sunday, amid the rising preference for electric vehicles in the market. South Korea's five carmakers sold 76,367 units of diesel passenger cars over the January-September period, down from 97,235 tallied a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. By model, sales of diesel models of Hyundai Motor Co.&#

South Korean battery makers are feeling the heat from the surge of Chinese competition, as Chinese battery giant CATL continues to expand its global presence outside its home turf. According to Korean market tracker SNE Research on Thursday, CATL’s worldwide battery usage outside China reached 64 gigawatt-hours from January to September this year, jumping 104.9 percent from the same period last year. The Chinese company’s global market share rose by almost 7 percentage points to be o

Home to Mercedes vans and Volvo cars, Charleston boasts more regulatory flexibility compared to some bigger states

Renault Korea Motors CEO Stephane Deblaise has pledged to ramp up the transition to electric vehicles with cutting-edge hybrid car technologies, the company said Wednesday. With additional investments, the company will add hybrid cars to its Busan plant production lineup, Deblaise was quoted as saying at the Invest Korea Summit 2023 that wrapped up Wednesday in Busan. No time frame was mentioned. Under the vision of a “thriving automotive tech company,” the CEO added the carmaker has

Samsung SDI said Tuesday it is bolstering ties with Volvo Trucks as the two companies celebrate the fifth anniversary of their partnership this year. Samsung SDI CEO Choi Yoon-ho and Martin Lundstedt, CEO and president of Volvo Group, as well as other company officials participated in the celebratory event held at the Korean battery maker’s Cheonan plant in South Chungcheong Province last month. Aside from battery-powered trucks, the two vowed to enhance their partnership on constructi

South Korean battery maker SK On said Monday it has clinched a deal with Swedish carmaker Polestar to supply its premium electric vehicle batteries. Under the agreement, the battery manufacturer will supply nickel, manganese and cobalt (NCM) batteries for the Polestar 5, the full-electric version of the carmaker's four-door coupe, from 2025. The size of the deal was not disclosed. The company said the partnership shows that the demand for high-performance NCM batteries is still high in the

Carmaker seeks to reduce China reliance, expand cost-effective EV lineup