In the aftermath of the massive fire caused by a Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle in August, Mathias Vaitl, CEO of the German auto giant’s Korean unit, might appear for next month's government audit, industry insiders said Friday. Given the severity of the incident that took out an apartment complex parking lot and over 100 vehicles in Incheon on Sept. 1, the Land Infrastructure and Transport Committee of the National Assembly is reportedly considering calling Mathias as a key witness f

Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand Genesis has launched an art exhibition titled, “Long Tail Halo” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on Thursday. In partnership with one of the world’s largest art museums, Genesis has featured four installation pieces by renowned Korean contemporary artist Lee Bul, displayed prominently at the museum's main entrance. (Hyundai Motor Group)

Pope Francis waves to the crowd from a Hyundai Ioniq 5, the auto giant’s flagship electric vehicle, as he arrives at the National Stadium in Singapore on Thursday. Singapore is the final stop of the pope’s 12-day, four-nation trip through Southeast Asia and the South Pacific – his longest and most distant tour of his papacy. (AFP-Yonhap)

Hyundai Motor Group and General Motors have joined forces to explore collaboration in vehicle development, supply chain and clean energy technology, officials announced Thursday. According to the announcement, the top leadership from each auto giant -- including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun and GM CEO Mary Barra -- recently met at Genesis House New York and signed a memorandum of understanding to seek future collaboration across key strategic areas. Hyundai Motor and GM -- th

BMW Group opened its newest charging station named BMW Charging Hub Lounge in central Seoul on Thursday, continuing to build upon the German automaker’s commitment to Korea’s electric vehicle transformation. According to BMW Group Korea, Seoul’s new charging facility has six 200 kilowatt-hour chargers and an indoor lounge including a cafe. The chargers will be open for other brands’ EVs as BMW aims to offer all EV drivers comfort and an opportunity to check out its newest

Posco Future M said Thursday it has signed a 1.8 trillion won ($1.4 billion) deal to supply high-nickel cathode materials for electric vehicle batteries with a battery maker. The details of the agreement including the other signing party will not be disclosed until Dec. 31, when the two companies will finalize the terms and conditions, according to Posco Future M. “We sometimes hold back the information on the parties involved following the company’s request (of not making a full dis

Bentley Motors Korea has just unveiled the fourth-generation Flying Spur in South Korea, marking the global debut of this luxury sedan with an all-new plug-in hybrid system. After announcing the new Flying Spur on Tuesday, Bentley Motors Korea held an in-person media reveal on Wednesday at the Bentley Tower in Dongdaemun, Seoul. “South Korea is incredibly important to Bentley, and the Flying Spur has really resonated with customers here. Last year, it became the first luxury sedan in its p

Collapsing lithium prices are expected to put more pressure on Korean battery companies that are already reeling from an electric vehicle chasm, industry insiders said Wednesday. According to a recent Goldman Sachs report, the global lithium price is projected to fall by 18 percent from the monthly average price of $12.70 per kilogram in August to $10.40 next year. The price would be an 84.1 percent drop compared to the lithium boom in 2022 and on a similar level to 2015, when automakers just st

Hyundai-Kia’s electric powertrains, featured in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Kia EV9 GT-Line, have been recognized by US automotive publication WardsAuto as two of the 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems for 2024. This also is the third straight year that Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP electric vehicle platform, has earned this prestigious recognition. WardsAuto has been holding automotive powertrain awards since 1995. Expanded in 2019 to include electric propulsion systems, the award

Hyundai Motor secured a triple podium finish at the Acropolis Rally Greece that took place from Thursday to Sunday, in the 10th round of the 2024 World Rally Championship. Thierry Neuville took the top spot, with teammates Dani Sordo and Ott Tanak close behind. This victory, Hyundai’s fourth of the season, came on one of the toughest WRC courses, known for its punishing unpaved roads and high temperatures. Hyundai’s i20 N Rally1 Hybrid cars outperformed rivals in durability and rel

The transport ministry said Monday it plans to issue a legislative notice for new government regulations regarding electric vehicle safety announced last week in response to public concerns over EV fires. The ministry said the legislative notice for amendments to the enforcement regulations of the Automobile Management Act will be issued for 40 days, from Tuesday to Oct. 21. Last week, the government said its EV battery certification system that was scheduled to go into effect next February will

Hyundai Motor plans to bring its Casper Electric mini SUV to Europe later this year and Japan in early 2025, following robust domestic sales. The company reported Sunday that it sold 28,784 units of the Casper -- both gasoline and electric versions -- in the Korean market from January to August this year, marking a 1.4 percent increase from the same period last year. Total Casper sales surged in August, with 5,031 units sold -- making it the first month in 2024 to break the 5,000 mark. The boost

The South Korean government said Friday it will certify the safety of electric vehicle batteries beginning October, four months ahead of the initial plan, as it rolled out various measures to prevent EV fires. According to the government’s EV fire safety management measures, both domestic and imported auto brands will be subject to the authorities’ EV battery certification requirement. The government will disclose the information of the battery cell manufacturer, battery type and key

In the race toward electrification, the auto industry has seen a dizzying array of electric vehicle types, from battery electric vehicles to hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell electric vehicles. Now, Hyundai Motor is adding another contender to the crowded mix -- extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs. Announced on Aug. 28 during the company's CEO Investor Day, Hyundai plans to introduce these new vehicles to the North American and Chinese markets by 2027. What exactly are EREVs?

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun (center) speaks during the second Trilateral Executive Dialogue, or TED, a leadership seminar between South Korea, the United States and Japan, held at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Wednesday. Hyundai Motor Group sponsored this year's TED, which gathered some 100 key figures from the three countries’ governments, assemblies and corporations to discuss strategic trade and investment, biotechnology security, energy cooperation, and the role of tec

BMW Group emphasized Tuesday it has been actively involved in South Korea for the past three decades, focusing on sourcing parts from local companies, investing in infrastructure and contributing to corporate social responsibility initiatives. The company’s activities in the region reflect its commitment to maintaining and expanding its presence in the Korean market, the group said. In 2023, BMW Group purchased parts worth 6.53 trillion won ($4.86 billion) from Korean companies. This fig

Hyundai Motor Group announced Tuesday that it will sponsor the second Trilateral Executive Dialogue, or TED, a leadership seminar between South Korea, the United States and Japan, set to take place at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Wednesday. TED, which held its first gathering in San Francisco last year, aims to explore opportunities for democracy and shared prosperity through in-depth discussions on expanding the trilateral ties’ comprehensive mutual benefits such as economic development and natio

Hansung Motors, one of the top official Mercedes-Benz dealers in South Korea, has appointed Marco Kim as its new CEO, the company announced Monday. Marco Kim brings extensive global expertise in the luxury automotive sector, having held key leadership and consulting roles with several prestigious car brands. Born in South Korea and raised in Australia, Kim holds a medical degree and an MBA from the University of Queensland. He later became a chartered accountant and joined Deloitte Motor Industr

Kia inaugurated the Kia E-Ground in Quito, Ecuador, on Monday to boost its position as a leading electric vehicle brand in Latin America. The 1,420-square-meter center features three thematic zones -- Planet, Energy and Mobility -- where visitors can explore Kia’s sustainability initiatives, cutting-edge EV technology and future mobility solutions. Highlights include an ocean cleanup virtual reality game, an EV driving simulator and displays of Kia's E-GMP platform. As Ecuador ranks

The all-new Colorado, the latest generation of the Chevrolet’s pickup truck, has returned as a well-rounded off-roader featuring an impressive powertrain and unexpectedly comfortable driving experience. The Korea Herald checked out the newly launched American pickup in a recent test drive including both on- and off-road courses in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Measuring 5,410 millimeters in length, 1,905 mm in width and 1,810 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,337 mm, the new Colorado looke