Grand Koleos, Scenic EV set new course for Renault Korea

Renault Korea is seeking to reassert its presence in the market with the launch of two new vehicles — the Grand Koleos, a midsize SUV, and the Scenic E-Tech 100% Electric. These are the company’s first new models in four years, following the release of the XM3 (now sold as Arkana). The arrivals come as Renault pursues a broader global transformation. In recent years, the French automaker has drawn up an “International Gameplan,” aimed at strengthening its position in the midsize and upper-midsiz

Aug. 21, 2025

Korail CEO offers to step down over deadly train accident

Han Moon-hee, CEO of Korea Railroad, is stepping down to take responsibility for Tuesday's train accident in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, which killed two workers and injured five. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Han tendered his resignation on the day of the accident, expressing deep responsibility for the incident. The ministry added that related procedures are currently underway. Han was appointed as CEO of the state-run train operator in July 2023. Hi

Aug. 21, 2025

BlueOval SK rolls out 1st EV battery product

BlueOval SK, a 50:50 joint venture between Korean battery maker SK On and American automaker Ford, has finally begun commercial production of electric vehicle batteries at its first Kentucky plant amid the prolonged stagnation of the EV market growth. According to BlueOval SK on Tuesday, its first-ever battery to be delivered to Ford rolled off the assembly line at the Kentucky 1 factory in Glendale. The batteries from this production will power the American automaker’s electric pickup truck, th

Aug. 20, 2025

[Photo News] Doosan expands US robotics ecosystem

Doosan Robotics said Wednesday that it has opened its official education center at the University of Maine as the Korean company bolsters the robotics ecosystem in the United States. Doosan's education center will offer learning opportunities not only to those already working in the robotics field but also to people interested in it. With the new education center, Doosan now has six such facilities, including one in Plano, Texas. (Doosan Group)

Aug. 20, 2025

Korean auto parts-makers to get W630b in financing relief amid US tariffs

Hyundai Motor Group, Hana Bank and the state-run Korea Trade Insurance Corp. have launched a 630 billion won ($453 million) financing program to support auto parts-makers hit by US tariffs. The three parties held a signing ceremony Monday to back Hyundai Motor Group’s domestic suppliers, which face risks of declining sales after the US imposed a 25 percent tariff on car parts in May. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan, Hyundai Motor Group President

Aug. 19, 2025

Fescaro joins Auto-ISAC as top-tier innovator partner

South Korean mobility software solutions provider Fescaro said Tuesday that it has officially signed an innovator partnership with Auto-ISAC in the US. Auto-ISAC is a global automotive cybersecurity organization that uses a collaborative system to share industry intelligence and jointly respond to cyber threats. About 80 global companies are participating, including the three major American automakers, including General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. Other global automakers such as Toyota and Hyun

Aug. 19, 2025

Hyundai’s Chung family honored for shaping global auto industry

Current and former leaders of Hyundai Motor Group have been recognized for their monumental contributions to the global automotive industry, the Korean auto conglomerate said Monday. According to Hyundai Motor, Executive Chair Chung Euisun, Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo and late founding chairman Chung Ju-yung were selected as recipients of the Automotive News Centennial Award, an accolade to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the US-based media outlet specializing in the automotive industr

Aug. 18, 2025

[Exclusive] Samsung SDI revamps sales under CEO amid push for global orders

Samsung SDI has recently merged its sales teams into a single unit directly overseen by CEO Choi Joo-sun, in an apparent bid to ramp up battery orders across applications ranging from electric vehicles to energy storage systems. According to industry sources on Sunday, the battery maker affiliated with Samsung Electronics restructured its strategy marketing office earlier this month as part of a broader organizational reshuffle. Previously, the company’s sales teams operated under separate batte

Aug. 17, 2025

Korea to invest W700b in advanced air vehicles through 2031

Korea has decided to commit 700 billion won ($506 million) to securing domestically developed advanced air vehicles, or AAV, from 2027 to 2031, the Korea AeroSpace Administration said Thursday, aiming to commercialize the aircraft for both civilian and military use. Under the five-year AAV development plan, KASA expects to conduct pilot flights in 2030, followed by demonstrations for maritime transport and public safety missions in 2031. Certification processes for military and private sector us

Aug. 14, 2025

Will Hyundai alliance offer fresh lifeline to GM Korea?

GM Korea’s labor talks are set to resume next week, with the automaker’s potential role in Hyundai Motor Company and GM’s recent joint vehicle project likely to emerge as a key bargaining point in the negotiations. According to industry sources Wednesday, GM Korea’s labor union and management will meet on Aug. 18, when its Bupyeong plant in Incheon restarts operations following summer break. The Korean unit’s labor and management have worked to bridge the gap in their negotiations, but with litt

Aug. 13, 2025

CATL mine suspension lifts lithium prices, Korean battery stocks

The suspension of CATL’s lithium mining operations in China, the world’s third-largest lithium producer, is set to lift near-term profits for South Korean battery material suppliers as rising lithium prices lift inventory values. According to news reports on Monday, CATL has halted production at its Yichun mine — the biggest in China’s lithium hub in Jiangxi province — as it failed to renew its mining license. CATL said the license for its Yichun mine expired on Aug. 9 and that it is seeking ren

Aug. 12, 2025

KGM SUVs for Spain’s Civil Guard

KG Mobility’s Rexton and Musso Sports SUVs are parked ahead of deployment by Spain’s Directorate General of the Civil Guard, the country’s paramilitary law enforcement agency. The Korean automaker recently supplied 86 SUVs to the authorities for special missions, including drug and explosives detection and missing person searches. (KG Mobility)

Aug. 12, 2025

Posco Future M, China's CNGR team up for global ESS push

Posco Future M has teamed up with China’s CNGR to produce cathode materials for lithium iron phosphate batteries, initially targeting the fast-growing global energy storage systems market. According to Posco Future M on Monday, Yoon Tae-il, head of its energy materials business division; CNGR Vice Chairman Zhu Zongyuan; and Li Bin, CEO of FINO, CNGR’s South Korean subsidiary, signed a memorandum of understanding Friday in Seoul. Under the agreement, the three companies will collaborate to establ

Aug. 11, 2025

Hyundai Motor’s software unit 42dot to raise $360m

Hyundai Motor Group’s software unit 42dot said Monday it plans to raise 500 billion won ($360 million) through a rights offering as the artificial intelligence-based mobility technology company looks to bolster its global competitiveness. According to 42dot, the Korean auto conglomerate’s two brands -- Hyundai Motor Company and Kia -- will take part in the paid-in capital increase as strategic investors. The software firm said the investment follows the conglomerate’s three-year capital expansio

Aug. 11, 2025

Genesis enters Egypt, expanding into African luxury EV market

Hyundai Motor Company’s premium brand, Genesis, has launched in Egypt, marking its first entry into the major African market. Focusing on electric models, the company aims to proactively capture the premium EV sector on the continent, where demand for electrified powertrains is expected to rise sharply. Genesis opened its first permanent showroom in Africa last Friday in New Cairo, a business district about 30 kilometers from Cairo’s city center. Operated in partnership with local distributor GB

Aug. 10, 2025