Hyundai Motor to premier first original film starring Son Suk-ku, Ioniq 5

Hyundai Motor Company said Tuesday it is releasing its first original film “Night Fishing,” starring actor Son Suk-ku and featuring its top-selling electric vehicle the Ioniq 5, this Friday nationwide. The film, the carmaker’s first foray into cinema, is a humanistic thriller weaving mystery and twists against the backdrop of an EV charging station. Directed by Moon Byoung-gon, the first Korean to win the Short Film Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2013, this project marks his ret

June 11, 2024

LG-GM joint venture workers win 30% wage hike

LG Energy Solution and General Motors' joint venture, Ultium Cells, have tentatively agreed to a 30 percent wage increase over the next three years, significantly boosting worker pay amidst concerns about rising production costs. The United Auto Workers announced Monday that their local chapter at the Ultium Cells plant in Warren, Ohio, has reached a preliminary agreement with the company. This tentative deal still requires ratification by union members. UAW President Shawn Fain stated that

June 11, 2024

Busan mobility show to bank on hybrid, EV debuts

The 2024 Busan International Mobility Show will take place later this month amid challenges faced by traditional auto shows worldwide, with Hyundai-Kia, Renault Korea and BMW Korea expected to unveil their latest electric and hybrid models. The biannual event, hosted at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, will commence with a press day on June 27 and continue until July 7. This year’s show coincides with the decline of long-standing auto exhibitions like the Geneva Motor Show, whic

June 10, 2024

[Photo News] For child protection

Mercedes-Benz Korea's corporate social responsibility committee has donated 500 million won ($363,000) to a child protection agency in Busan, the German automaker's local office said Monday. The donation was part of some 1 billion won raised through the auto importer's charity run held in Busan in April. In this photo, Mathias (left), CEO of Mercedes-Benz Korea, and Park Heong-joon, mayor of Busan, hold up the donation certificate during the delivery ceremony at Busan City Hall on

June 10, 2024

Hyundai Motor accelerates hydrogen drive

Hyundai Motor Company has acquired the domestic hydrogen fuel cell business from the auto conglomerate’s affiliate and auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis to speed up its technological innovation and product development, the automaker said Sunday. According to Hyundai Motor, the takeover was officially completed last month to gather Mobis’ hydrogen fuel cell facilities, assets and personnel in one place. With the acquisition, Hyundai Motor set up a new process quality unit under its resea

June 9, 2024

42dot gets $185m from Hyundai-Kia to boost hiring

Hyundai Motor and Kia are investing some 253 billion won ($185 million) in 42dot, the global software center within Hyundai Motor Group, to aggressively recruit top-tier talent and accelerate the group's software-defined vehicle strategy. On Tuesday, Hyundai and Kia announced through Korea's Financial Supervisory Service that their boards had approved a capital increase, with Hyundai contributing over 152 billion won and Kia adding more than 101 billion won. This investment is based on

June 5, 2024

LG Energy Solution, Analog Devices team up for BMS innovation

LG Energy Solution said Wednesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with American semiconductor manufacturer Analog Devices, Inc. to enhance battery management technologies for electric vehicles. Over the next two years, ADI will supply high-performance battery management integrated circuits, or BMIC, while both companies develop algorithms to measure the internal temperatures of EV battery cells accurately. Analog Devices specializes in impedance measurement technologies. Impedance, t

June 5, 2024

[KH Explains] Hyundai eyes IPO to leverage presence in India

Hyundai Motor Group is aiming to list its Indian subsidiary, Hyundai Motor India, in the coming months, raising up to $3 billion in a landmark initial public offering, according to industry sources Monday. HMI reportedly plans to file for the IPO in June, with Kotak and Morgan Stanley newly joining the syndicate as the deal advisers. If successful, it could surpass the $2.5 billion raised by the Life Insurance Corporation of India in 2022, potentially setting a new record in the Indian stock mar

June 3, 2024

Hyundai rally team wins third WRC race in Italy

Hyundai Motor Co. said Monday it clinched its third consecutive victory of the 2024 World Rally Championship season on Sunday at the Rally Italia Sardegna. The Hyundai World Rally Team secured a win in the sixth round of the 2024 WRC season on the Italian island of Sardinia, held from Thursday to Sunday. Rally Italia Sardegna, known for its challenging narrow and rough roads and sweltering early summer weather, is considered one of the toughest events in the WRC calendar. Hyundai's Ott Tana

June 3, 2024

Kazen's new look powers HD Hyundai Oilbank's premium push

HD Hyundai Oil Bank is stepping up its focus on the premium gasoline market with an updated brand design and slogan for Kazen, its flagship high-end gasoline product. The new design, launched in May, aims to improve readability and create a strong, dynamic impression. It will be rolled out across all HD Hyundai Oil Bank gas stations nationwide. The Kazen boasts an octane rating of over 100, exceeding legal standards. This high-octane fuel is crucial for preventing engine knocking and optimizing

May 30, 2024

UAE president, Hyundai Motor chief discuss green mobility partnerships in Seoul

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun met with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss enhancing private-sector collaboration in sustainable mobility during Al Nahyan's visit to Korea this week. The UAE President's visit, his first to South Korea, also included meetings with leaders of other major South Korean conglomerates, such as Samsung Electronics' Lee Jae-yong and SK Group's Chey Tae-won. These discuss

May 29, 2024

Hyundai Motor hires ex-Porsche engineer to lead high-performance push

Hyundai Motor Group has recruited Manfred Harrer, former lead developer of Porsche’s first all-electric vehicle Taycan, to take the helm of developing products for the Korean carmaker’s luxury brand Genesis and Hyundai Motor’s high-performance N series, the company said Tuesday. According to the auto conglomerate, Harrer has been appointed as the head of Genesis & Performance Development Tech Unit, which operates under the Research & Development Division of Hyundai Moto

May 28, 2024

Korea's privacy watchdog denies Tesla Autopilot probe

South Korea's privacy watchdog has denied claims from a news report suggesting the agency is specifically investigating Tesla for potential privacy violations related to the carmaker's Autopilot system. The Personal Information Protection Commission clarified that its current efforts are part of a broader privacy policy initiative that involves all smart cars and self-driving mobility systems, not just Tesla’s Autopilot. On Tuesday, a local daily reported that the Personal Information Prot

May 28, 2024

Gilles Vidal guides Renault's balanced design shift

Renault Group has been reshaping its brand with a strong emphasis on the balanced design of analog and digital elements, led by the group’s Design Vice President Gilles Vidal, a renowned figure in automotive design. Renault's design transformation began in 2021 with the introduction of its "Nouvelle Vague" brand strategy, meaning “new wave” in French, aiming to craft the next generation of stylish, modern vehicles for Renault. This effort bore fruit when the Rena

May 27, 2024

[KH Explains] US crackdown on Chinese connected vehicles unsettles Korea

The South Korean government and automotive industry are on high alert as the US prepares to enforce regulations on Chinese-made connected vehicles this fall, citing national security concerns about potential data leaks involving American consumers. While the focus seems to be on complete vehicles, the regulations could indirectly affect Chinese-made components if they are deemed integral to the data collection and transmission processes that raise security concerns. The broad scope of the term &

May 26, 2024

[From the Scene] Porsche’s Leipzig plant shines with people-first orientation

LEIPZIG, Germany -- Bright rays of sunlight shone through the roof Thursday morning at the assembly building of Porsche’s manufacturing plant in Leipzig, Germany, enlivening the atmosphere of the busy production site. The German sports carmaker’s Leipzig plant shattered the traditional image of auto factories being rather grey and stifling as The Korea Herald visited the site as a part of this year’s International Transport Forum held at the Congress Center Leipzig from Wednesd

May 26, 2024

S. Korea's innovative Traffic Culture Index spotlighted at OECD transport ministers' gathering

In terms of traffic safety, South Korea has seen a remarkable improvement over the past decade across various metrics. According to the International Transport Forum, the country has seen a 49.2 percent decrease in road deaths between 2012 and 2022. The number of passenger car occupants killed in road crashes dropped by 63.8 percent, while that of pedestrians killed in traffic accidents fell by 54 percent. Industry experts attribute such improvements to an overall enhancement of public awarene

May 24, 2024

Kia EV3 aims for mass appeal with best-in-class range, pricing

Kia unveiled its latest electric vehicle, the EV3, a subcompact electric sport utility vehicle designed to attract mainstream consumers and drive mass adoption of EVs, during an online media conference Thursday. Made for nimble city driving, the EV3 serves as the entry-level model in Kia’s EV lineup that boasts a range of up to 600 km according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure, or WLTP, marking it as best-in-class for its size. It is equipped with a front-wheel-driv

May 23, 2024

[From the Scene] Global transport leaders call for greener moves

LEIPZIG, Germany -- Global transport leaders have called for the importance of bolstering environmentally friendly transportation during these times of climate, health and geopolitical crisis at this year’s International Transport Forum’s annual summit in Leipzig, Germany. “The world is facing what can be described as a polycrisis, in other words, a situation with multiple simultaneous disruptions that interact and can quickly spill over from one area to another,” said IT

May 23, 2024

Battery makers' output slows on waning EV demand

An increasing share of manufacturing capacity is not being used in Korea’s battery industry due to waning demand in the electric vehicle market. But manufacturers remain optimistic about a recovery later this year as inventory adjustments end and new EV models are launched. Official data released this week reveal that LG Energy Solution’s factory capacity utilization rate fell to 57.4 percent in the first quarter, a steep decline from 77.7 percent during the same period last year. Si

May 22, 2024