[THE INVESTOR] The government announced July 28 it will provide up to 4 million won (US$ 3,557) tax reduction on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles until the end of 2019. Hyundai Motor`s fuel-cell Tucson ixThe measure included in the tax revision is aimed at boosting the country’s renewable energy businesses’ competitiveness. Until now, reduction in the 5 percent special consumption tax was only provided to electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. For hybrid vehicles, the tax was cut by up to 1 million w

[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Mobis on July 28 said that it posted a 13 percent increase in second-quarter operating profit from a year earlier, thanks to favorable currency rates and improved supply to sport utility vehicles. South Korea’s largest automotive parts supplier affiliated with Hyundai Motor Group reported the April-June operating profit of 784.7 billion won (US$696.2 million), compared with the 694.4 billion won from the same period last year. Hyundai Mobis’ Mabuk technical center in Yongi

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor slipped down in the US ranking of cars that measures the overall satisfaction of owning and driving cars. Hyundai Motor ranked ninth, down from second last year, among non-premium brands on the J.D. Power’s Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout Study, released on July 27. The result is based on responses from more than 80,000 purchaser and lessees of new vehicles who assessed the performance and design after 90 days of ownership

[THE INVESTOR] Prosecutors on July 27 filed for an arrest warrant for Park Dong-hoon, Volkswagen Korea’s former chief executive officer, over the German automaker’s emission rigging scandal. Park has been charged with fabrication of private documents, obstruction of justice and violation of the Clean Air Conservation Act. The 63-year-old headed the Korean unit from its initiation in 2005 to 2013 before moving to Renault Samsung Motors as sales chief. He took helm of the Korean unit of France’s R

[THE INVESTOR] Kia Motors, a Hyundai Motor's smaller affiliate said on July 27 it plans to roll out a new sport utility vehicle in China in response to stagnating car sales in the world’s second largest economy. “In China, we will unveil a new SUV, similar to Sorento, next year,” Han Chun-soo, Kia’s chief financial officer, said at the conference call after announcing the Q2 results. “Besides SUVs, we will also include compact cars and the K5 hybrid model in the new lineup to increase presence i

[THE INVESTOR] Kia Motors posted an 18.5 percent increase in second-quarter operating profit, driven by newly launched cars and solid demand in its major markets including the US and Europe. South Korea’s second largest automaker on July 27 reported the April-June operating profit of 770.9 billion won (US$679.20 million), compared with the 650.7 billion won from the same period last year. It is the first time that the company’s operating profit has exceeded the 700 billion-won mark since the sec

[THE INVESTOR] BMW’s latest self-parking system will become available in Korea possibly from November, with the Korean unit waiting for the final approval from the nation’s ICT Ministry. BMW Korea said on July 26 that the self-parking feature, called Park Assistant Plus, will be offered first in the flagship 7 Series sedan this year and then other models such as the smaller 5 Series in phases. The self-parking system -- the first of its kind globally -- allows owners to maneuver their 7 Series i

[THE INVESTOR] Kia Motors, South Korea’s second-largest automaker, released its new version of compact minivan Carens that features more power, dynamic exterior and affordable price tag on July 26. The new Carens, better known as Ronda in overseas markets, shares the same external dimension with the older model launched in June 2015. “We improved the design of the radiator grille, head lamps, rear lights and wheels to emphasize strong appearance and voluminous body,” a company official said. Kia

[THE INVESTOR] Korea's local credit appraiser NICE Investors Service considers cutting credit ratings of Volkswagen Financial Services Korea, a unit of the troubled German carmaker caught in a recent emissions-rigging scandal. A Volkswagen store in Bangbae-dong, southern SeoulThe rating firm said on July 26 the company was included in its latest monitoring list for a possible credit downgrade, maintaining the current credit rating at “A+” for now. “Volkswagen Korea is likely to struggle with its

[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Motor, the world’s fifth-largest carmaker, said it posted second-quarter operating profit of 1.76 trillion won (US$1.54 billion), up 0.6 percent on-year. From the first quarter of 2016, operating profit rose 31.2 percent, the carmaker said on July 26. Hyundai Motor Group headquartersNet profit for the second quarter fell 1.5 percent on-year to 1.76 trillion won. Sales, however, rose 8.1 percent to 24.67 trillion won. In total Hyundai sold 1,285,860 units during the cited p

 [THE INVESTOR] The import volume of German-made cars in South Korea dropped for the first time in 13 years amid an emission-rigging scandal involving Volkswagen and Audi cars, industry data showed on July 26. The number of German vehicles imported in the January-May period came in at 51,736 units to reflect a 12.7 percent decrease from the same period in 2015, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association. Volkswagen cars are lined up at Pyeongtaek Port. / The Investo