Intl. flight passengers recover to 64.8% of pre-pandemic level in H1: data

The number of international flight passengers recovered to nearly 65 percent of the pre-pandemic level in the first half of the year, government data showed Monday. A total of 29.5 million people boarded international flights between January and June, accounting for 64.8 percent of the 45.6 million tallied over the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. By destination, the number of travelers to the

July 31, 2023

[Test Drive] Toyota Highlander Hybrid, a fuel-efficient family SUV

Amid the burgeoning demand in Korea for large-sized sport utility vehicles equipped for family trips, Toyota has launched its three-row SUV model Highlander Hybrid here for the first time. Based on the Toyota New Global Architecture-K platform, the Japanese carmaker touted the family car’s strong physical structure, blended with optimal suspension control which makes for an easy drive. “The power output of the electric motor and gasoline engine in the fourth generation model of the T

July 31, 2023

[Test Drive] New Trailblazer rides off-road with confidence

The Chevrolet Trailblazer has come back as a compact sports utility vehicle that suits both an urban lifestyle and off-road driving. As the vehicle nearly went through an overall facelift, the first impression that stood out was the sharp design of the front at the media test-drive held by General Motors in Seoul on July 26. The chrome bars running across the top and bottom of the radiator grille and the thin LED headlamps gave a solid, aggressive impression. With a length of 4,425 millimeters,

July 30, 2023

Hyundai, Kia's US market share stays above 10% in H1: data

The combined US market share of Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Corp. inched up in the first half of the year from a year earlier, managing to stay above the 10 percent range amid the recovery in demand and output, data showed Sunday. Their combined share came to 10.6 percent in the January-June period, up 0.3 percentage point from the previous year, according to the data by the US-based Automotive News outlet. Hyundai and Kia saw their combined market share rise to double digits

July 30, 2023

Facial recognition system implemented at Incheon Airport

Incheon Airport said it has begun utilizing preregistered facial information to streamline the departure process for passengers from Friday. Dubbed the "facial recognition smart pass service," the newly launched service will allow passengers to quickly pass through the identification process at departure and boarding gates without having to show their passports and boarding passes to security personnel. The service is available at six departure gates and 16 boarding gates at Incheon Ai

July 28, 2023

Kia mulls lowering EV prices

Kia will consider lowering the prices of its battery-powered electric vehicles to compete against global EV leaders amid growing markets, according to the automaker’s chief financial officer on Thursday. “The important point from now on regarding the EV market, which has become highly competitive and abnormal in some sense, is that we should put more weight on securing our market share than focusing on profitability,” said Joo Woo-jeong, Kia’s CFO and executive vice presi

July 27, 2023

Hyundai, Kia join massive EV charging alliance to take on Tesla's Superchargers

South Korean carmakers Hyundai Motor Company and its sister firm Kia have joined forces with five global auto giants -- BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis -- to form a joint venture for establishing an electric vehicle charging network across North America, in a combined effort at curbing Tesla’s attempt at EV charging standardization. The seven companies announced on Wednesday in US time that the joint venture will set up at least 30,000 chargers by 2030, saying that

July 27, 2023

Hyundai Motor posts record earnings on upbeat US sales

Hyundai Motor said Wednesday it posted record-high sales and profits in the second quarter this year, largely buoyed by strong sales in key markets, including the US. The carmaker’s sales revenue surged by 17.4 percent to 42.2 trillion won ($33 billion) from a year earlier, surpassing the previous record posted in the fourth quarter last year. Operating profits exceeded the 4 trillion won mark for the first time to reach 4.2 trillion won, a 42.2 percent jump on-year. Of the 1.06 million

July 26, 2023

[Photo News] Hyundai Avante N debuts

Hyundai Motor Group’s all-new Avante N, a high-performance version of the carmaker’s popular compact sedan, made its official debut on Wednesday. The car comes with a gasoline-powered 2.0 turbo flat engine and two six-speed and eight-speed transmission options. Its price starts at 29.4 million won ($23,000).

July 26, 2023

Korean Air to appeal against Russian court's penalty decision

Korean Air Co. said Tuesday it will file an appeal against a Russian court's penalty decision over the "omission" of the South Korean carrier's departure process at a Moscow airport in early 2021. The Russian arbitration court has recently ordered Korean Air to pay 59 billion won ($46 million) in fine to Russia's customs authorities for the omission, a Korean Air spokesperson said over the phone. The court's penalty is half of the fine requested by the Russian custo

July 25, 2023

Kia unveils design of upgraded Sorento SUV ahead of launch next month

Kia Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker by sales, on Tuesday unveiled the design of the upgraded Sorento SUV ahead of its domestic launch next month. Kia plans to place the facelifted Sorento SUV with a gasoline, a diesel or an all-wheel-drive gasoline hybrid engine in the Korean market in mid-August, the company said in a statement. The two-wheel-drive gasoline hybrid version and the upgraded SUV's prices will be released later, the statement said. The facelifted Sorento come

July 25, 2023

[Exclusive] Hyundai to ramp up EV production in Indonesia

Hyundai Motor Group is poised to produce electric vehicles, including the flagship Ioniq 5, in Indonesia equipped with battery packs made at its manufacturing plant there from August 2024, ramping up production to allow hefty EV tax incentives. “Hyundai Energy Indonesia will be producing battery packs from July 2024 using cells made by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution’s joint battery manufacturing plant. A month later, the packs will be put into EVs produced in Indonesia,&r

July 25, 2023

Hyundai Motor opens battery research center with SNU

A joint battery research center between Hyundai Motor Group and Seoul National University officially opened Tuesday, signifying the South Korean automaker’s willingness to secure future-leading technologies in the global electric vehicle industry. “Our mission to develop a diverse range of mobility solutions equipped with advanced batteries is driven by our strong commitment to a sustainable environment for future generations,” said Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Eui

July 25, 2023

Samsung SDI, Stellantis to build second joint EV battery plant in US

Samsung SDI said Monday it is poised to build a second electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant with Stellantis in the US, ramping up its investment in the all-important EV market. The two signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the plant under StarPlus Energy, a joint venture of Samsung SDI and Stellantis, with an initial annual production capacity of 34 gigawatt hours. It is slated to start production in 2027. The location of the plant has yet to be decided. The Korean battery maker

July 24, 2023

Renault’s LPG-powered QM6 nears 100,000 unit sales

The New QM6 by Renault Korea Motors is the only sport utility vehicle in Korea that is powered by liquefied petroleum gas or LPG. Highlighting the high demand for the LPG model among Korean drivers, the carmaker said almost seven out of 10 QM6 cars sold in the first half of this year were LPG models. Since its debut in 2019, the QM6 LPe is expected to hit the 100,000 mark in sales in the near future. According to Renault, one of the key reasons behind the LPG model’s huge success is its re

July 21, 2023

Hyundai Motor unveils nanotechnology vision

Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it has developed six kinds of nanotechnologies that will be key drivers of growth in future mobility, ranging from autonomous driving cars to software defined vehicles. Nanotechnology creates new materials by synthesizing or fabricate arrays of materials that are 1 billionth of a meter in width. “Only when we secure top level materials technology in mobility can we improve the performance and durability of car parts and vehicles which will offer a competit

July 20, 2023

Georgia road renamed 'SK Boulevard' in nod to economic boost

The “SK Boulevard” debuted in Jackson Country in the US state of Georgia on Wednesday, replacing the former Steve Reynolds Industrial Parkway in recognition of the contributions of SK Battery America to the local economy, SK On, the battery making unit of SK Group said Thursday. The announcement was made at a signage ceremony at SKBA's Georgia facility attended by key local figures including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Commerce City Mayor Clark Hill, and Jackson County Chamber of C

July 20, 2023

[KH explains] How to stay safe driving through flood water

Flooding due to monsoon rains in South Korea has resulted in dozens of casualties this week, raising the issue of vehicle safety during storms. Drivers need to take extra care and be vigilant to avoid getting trapped in submerged cars, according to experts. “It is recommended to reduce speed, almost by 20 percent of the speed limit to prevent the car from skidding on wet roads,” said Lee Ho-geun, a car engineering professor at Daeduk University. “Also, keep longer stopping di

July 19, 2023

Tesla's China-made Model Y unlikely to receive full subsidy in Korea

Tesla's Chinese-made all-electric sport utility vehicle Model Y is unlikely to be eligible for full government subsidies in Korea, according to the Ministry of Environment. The ministry issued a note saying that the EV subsidy assessment was still ongoing, and that the rear-wheel drive car, manufactured in Shanghai, does not meet two of the four criteria that would qualify them for the full subsidy amount. “As the EV subsidy assessment is ongoing for Tesla’s Model Y, nothing has

July 18, 2023

Hyundai unveils all-new Santa Fe SUV ahead of launch in August

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker by sales, on Tuesday unveiled the design of the all-new Santa Fe SUV ahead of its planned world premiere in August. The fifth-generation Santa Fe is a full-change model from the fourth-generation one released in 2018. It comes with a maximized rear cargo capacity in line with the latest outdoor lifestyle trends, the company said in a statement. "The all-new Santa Fe is an SUV that finds a perfect balance between the city and the great o

July 18, 2023