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SsangYong Motor launches gasoline-powered Korando

Amid waning market demand for diesel-powered sport utility vehicles, SsangYong Motor unveiled the gasoline model of the Korando on Tuesday, to boost sales of its SUV brand. The carmaker has improved safety of the 1.5-liter turbo gasoline model by installing seven air bags and other safety features, including lane keeping assist, driver awareness assist and autonomous emergency braking systems. The launch came six months after the company unveiled the 2.0-liter diesel Korando here in February. Th

Aug 20, 2019

S. Korea to ban Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche cars in emissions scandal

South Korea will ban domestic sales of eight models of Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche diesel cars for violating emissions regulations, the Ministry of Environment said Tuesday.The ministry said it will also slap fines on Audi Volkswagen Korea and Porsche Korea and seek a prosecution investigation.The ministry's probe has found that the German automakers manipulated pollution control devices used in those vehicles. A total of 1,261 cars in the eight models were sold in South Korea from May 2015 to

Aug 19, 2019

[Foreign Executives] Han Sung Motor revenue triples under Ausprung leadership

As the longest-serving CEO in the local auto importer community, the German marketing expert has been lauded for service innovation, CSR

Aug 14, 2019

Posco’s high-end cryogenic steel for LNG tanks gets green light

The government has approved the use of Posco’s cryogenic high manganese steel for manufacturing liquefied natural gas storage tanks, the company said Tuesday.The decision made after a review by an independent panel on gas technology standardization will be notified by the government, it added.Cryogenic HMS developed by the South Korean steel giant, can withstand temperatures as low as minus 196 degree Celsius, and could replace nickel alloy steel which has been commonly used for LNG storag

Aug 14, 2019

Hyundai Mobis to supply homegrown radar, camera sensor for commercial vehicles

South Korean auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis said Tuesday it will supply collision-warning features including radar and camera sensors, developed in-house, for Hyundai Motor’s commercial vehicles starting September.The forward-looking sensor and radar automatically detect objects that are up to 170 meters ahead, and reduce the speed of vehicles to avoid collision with other vehicles. Hyundai Motor is applying such driver-assist features in its commercial vehicles for the first time. Mobis&r

Aug 14, 2019

Tesla Model 3 launches in Korea

US carmaker Tesla Motors’ Model 3 landed in South Korea on Tuesday, with the local branch starting to receive orders via its website. The price of the Model 3 starts from 52 million won ($43,000) without a government subsidy of 9 million won. The company plans to request for state subsidies. The first batch of the Model 3 will be delivered to customers starting in the final quarter, it said in an email statement. The smallest sedan by Tesla has three trims, including a high-performance ver

Aug 12, 2019

Sales of German cars rise amid boycott of Japanese products

Amid a nationwide boycott of Japanese goods, including fashion items, household products and cars, sales of Japanese vehicles waned last month, while sales increased for German carmakers, industry data showed Sunday. According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association, Japanese automotive companies, such as Toyota, sold a combined 2,674 units of vehicles in July, taking up 13.7 percent of market share, down 6.7 percentage points from the previous month.　This marked the

Aug 12, 2019

Hyundai Motor’s Nexo scores highest safety rating from IIHS

Hyundai Motor Group’s hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle Nexo has earned the Top Safety Pick+ award from US’ Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the carmaker said Sunday.It was the first time for IIHS to evaluate a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and also to give an award.According to IIHS, Nexo has earned top ratings in moderate overlap front, driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It also received &ldqu

Aug 7, 2019

SsangYong Motors mulls self-rescue plans amid financial woes

SsangYong Motors, the South Korean unit of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, is seeking measures to revive its business amid dwindling sales and liquidity woes, according to the company Tuesday.According to a letter sent to employees, SsangYong Motor CEO Yea Byung-tae said the company would conduct an organizational reshuffle in September to normalize business. The company will also reduce 10 to 20 percent of its senior executive workforce in the annual reshuffle slated for February, as wel

Aug 6, 2019

[Behind the Wheel] Going fast and furious at Mercedes-Benz AMG Driving Academy

YONGIN, Gyeonggi Province -- For many, driving is fun and a way to relieve stress. But that’s only the case when you are not on the jam-packed downtown roads.Although automakers boast about acceleration and maximum torque, drivers don’t get a chance to fully experience the car’s capacity, not to mention drifting through curves and feeling the full potential of the engine. At Mercedes-Benz’s AMG Driving Academy, however, all are possible.  One can hop on a range

Aug 6, 2019

Sales of Japanese imported vehicles dip in Korea amid trade feud

Sales of imported cars from Japan fell by double digits in July, amid an escalating trade feud between Korea and Japan and a subsequent Korean boycott of Japanese goods. According to data released Monday by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, the number of newly registered cars from Japanese carmakers dropped 17.2 percent to 2,674 units in July, down from 3,229 units registered the same time last year.Compared with 3,946 units registered in June, the figure was also do

Aug 2, 2019

Aston Martin to display W2b Valhalla at Coex this weekend

Aston Martin Seoul said Thursday that it would be unveiling its newest hypercar, Valhalla, through Sunday at Coex in southern Seoul.The Valhalla, scheduled to be released in 2021, will be limited to production of just 500 units around the world, and comes with the hefty price tag of about 2 billion won ($1.68 million) here.The Valhalla will be on display at a special exhibition hall in front of Megabox Coex. A video explaining the philosophy and technology of Aston Martin will be shown alongside

Jul 31, 2019

[Behind the Wheel] With segment-blurring Seltos, Kia adds premium to small SUV lineup

When Kia Motors said its latest compact sport utility vehicle Seltos would be a game-changer in the local SUV market, the company was met with doubts, as the automaker already has three other small SUVs -- the Stoniq, Soul and Niro. But upon the official launch of Seltos this month, and with a single test-drive of Seltos, feelings of doubt immediately changed to pleasant surprise. Driving Seltos on a 65-kilometer route from Wonju, Gangwon Province, to Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, it was c

Jul 30, 2019

Indonesian minister confirms Hyundai’s new plant

An Indonesian Cabinet member has confirmed Hyundai Motor’s plan to build a new manufacturing factory with a $1 billion investment into the country, according to local media. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said he met the carmaker’s de facto leader Chung Euisun on Friday to discuss the investment plan and that the carmaker has secured a plot for construction on western Java Island, Indonesian newspaper Kompas reported Sunday. The planned factory wil