EV fires prompt transparency moves over battery origins

Electric vehicle battery manufacturers are bracing for increased scrutiny as South Korea considers new regulations requiring automakers to disclose their battery suppliers for each vehicle model, following a series of EV-related fires including a blaze in Incheon that damaged 100 vehicles. The car in the Incheon fire was a Mercedes-Benz equipped with a battery from Farasis, a Chinese manufacturer ranked 10th in the world by revenue. The exact cause of the fire -- whether it stemmed from the batt

Aug. 12, 2024

Hyundai Motor names battery sources as EV fire concerns grow

Hyundai Motor Group is addressing public safety concerns over electric fires in Korea by disclosing the battery manufacturers for its electric vehicle lineup and implementing enhanced safety features. It has listed the battery manufacturers for all 13 Hyundai and Genesis EVs on its official Korean website. According to the carmaker, most of the Hyundai EVs, including the flagship Ioniq brand cars, used batteries from Korea’s LG Energy Solution and SK On. Hyundai’s Kona Electric was t

Aug. 11, 2024

Software update of Hyundai, Kia cars result in lower theft rates in US

The anti-theft software upgrade for Hyundai Motor Company and Kia vehicles has reduced theft rates by more than half in the United States, according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute. The two Korean automakers came under fire as numerous vehicle thefts among certain models lacking immobilizers grew exponentially after videos of young men stealing the cars went viral on social media platforms in the summer of 2022. In the videos, the thieves would rip off a plastic cover behind th

Aug. 9, 2024

[Photo News] New K8

Kia launched the new K8 on Friday, looking to invigorate the mid- to large-size sedan market with the product enhancement model. The new K8, which underwent a facelift for the first time since its initial release in April 2021, abandoned its old look and adopted the automaker's new star-map signature lighting on the front. The new sedan has been equipped with an advanced driver assistance system to offer upgraded marketability. The price of the new K8 starts at 37.36 million won ($27,338) i

Aug. 9, 2024

[KH Explains] Are underground parking bans for EVs fueled by fear or fact?

"No EVs permitted in underground parking areas." These signs have recently popped up at some apartment complexes and office buildings across South Korea, a response to a severe fire earlier this month. An electric vehicle ignited in the underground parking lot of an apartment building in Cheongna International City, Incheon, triggering widespread fear and leading some apartment managers to ban EVs from these spaces entirely. The fire began with a stationary, uncharging Mercedes-Benz EQ

Aug. 8, 2024

Hyundai Casper Electric aims to prevent sudden acceleration

Hyundai Motor Company on Tuesday showcased an array of distinguished features of the automaker’s newest battery-electric vehicle the Casper Electric, including the automaker’s latest technology that can prevent sudden acceleration incidents. Named Pedal Misapplication Safety Assist, or PMSA, the new technology automatically controls the vehicle’s speed when the driver floors the acceleration pedal suddenly from a standstill if there is an obstacle within one meter away from eit

Aug. 7, 2024

Volkswagen keen to revive Korean sales with new Touareg

Volkswagen Group Korea on Tuesday launched the new Touareg, the first release from the German automaker in the local market in about two years, as the German automaker looks to bolster its presence here. “The Touareg has established a unique position, offering exceptional product value at a reasonable price,” said Till Scheer, CEO of Volkswagen Group Korea, during the launch ceremony of the new sport utility vehicle at Grand Hyatt Seoul. “It is an unmatched powerful premium SUV

Aug. 6, 2024

Hyundai Glovis, China's Huayou partner on battery recycling

Hyundai Glovis has partnered up with Chinese firm Huayou Cobalt to create an extensive recycling network for electric vehicle batteries, aiming to lead the way in sustainable battery management. Hyundai Glovis, a Korean logistics and distribution powerhouse, inked a memorandum of understanding with Zhejiang Huayou Recycling Technology, or Huayou Recycling, a subsidiary of cobalt giant Huayou Cobalt. Known for being the world's top producer of cobalt -- a crucial element for EV batteries --

Aug. 5, 2024

US, allies discuss new restrictions on Chinese connected vehicles

As the US government intensifies efforts to regulate Chinese technology in connected vehicles over national security concerns, South Korea and other key allies are coordinating to balance these security goals with potential supply chain disruptions. The US State Department convened a meeting Wednesday with representatives from allied governments and industry leaders, including officials from South Korea, Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, India, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Aug. 2, 2024

Samsung, LG's electric auto parts sales soar despite EV slump

The Korean automotive electric parts sector is thriving even as electric vehicle sales slow down, driving significant gains for Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics in the second quarter. Automotive electric parts encompass a range of components integral to modern vehicles, particularly electric and hybrid models. These include infotainment systems offering multimedia and connectivity features, digital cockpits replacing analog gauges with digital displays and premium car audio systems from

Aug. 1, 2024

[KH Explains] Can Korea commercialize UAM in 2025?

Korea’s private and public sectors have been working relentlessly to commercialize urban air mobility, or UAM, in 2025 as the country looks to take the lead in the up-and-coming global UAM sector. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has laid out the K-UAM roadmap with two-part demonstration projects of "Grand Challenges," or GC1 and GC2. The ministry explained that UAM, which mainly focuses on utilizing electric vertical take-off and landing, or eVTOL, aircraft to

Aug. 1, 2024

Hyundai Motor signs mobility partnership with UN humanitarian agency

Hyundai Motor Company announced Wednesday that it signed a mobility sector partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, the world's largest humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting hunger across the globe. The agreement ceremony took place at the Hyundai Motor Studio in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, with Hyundai Motor Company CEO Chang Jae-hoon and WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain in attendance. Established to combat hunger in developing nations, the WFP aims to create a

July 31, 2024

[Business Diplomacy] As Trump targets EVs, Hyundai-Kia shifts gears to hybrids

“I will end the electric vehicle mandate on day one.” With Donald Trump gaining traction as the Republican presidential candidate, this declaration at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 18 has sent ripples of concern through the South Korean automotive and battery industries. The potential implications of Trump’s return to the White House, coupled with his protectionist and anti-EV stance, have companies like Hyundai-Kia and major Korean battery makers brac

July 30, 2024

Geely’s top brass visit SK to speed up EV partnership

SK Group and SK On are reportedly fast-tracking their collaboration with China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, a leading multinational automotive conglomerate. Industry sources reported that executives from Geely Auto responsible for technology, research and development, and international cooperation, visited SK Building headquarters in Seoul on Monday. The delegation, which included the CEO of Zeekr, Geely Auto’s premium EV brand, met SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won an

July 30, 2024

Hyundai Motor accelerates air mobility business in Indonesia

Hyundai Motor and Kia demonstrated their advanced air mobility in Indonesia as they demonstrated a flying aircraft and hailing procedure at the Samarinda Airport in East Kalimantan on Monday. With officials from Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation and Nusantara Capital City Authority in attendance for the presentation, the automakers explained how ride-pooling application Shucle and specialized aircraft can be developed to fit the circumstances of the local customers and advanced furthe

July 29, 2024

Renault Grand Koleos caters to fuel-efficient family car market

Renault Korea’s latest mid-size hybrid SUV, the Renault Grand Koleos, is showing a promising start following its debut at the 2024 Busan Mobility Show last month, reporting over 10,000 contracts signed within the first month. According to Renault Korea, more than half of Grand Koleos buyers are in their 40s and 50s, a demographic seeking fuel-efficient family cars. This trend reflects a broader market shift in the Korean market, where hybrid vehicles have grown significantly. According to

July 29, 2024

[Test Drive] Kia EV3 takes regenerative braking to next level

Kia is going all-out to turn around the slowing growth of electric vehicles with the launch of its latest all-electric vehicle EV3 as the Korean automaker has developed an affordable, all-around EV. The Korea Herald got to check out the Kia EV3 long-range model with 17-inch wheels for a test drive last week. The 201-kilometer course included city drive, highways and winding roads between Seoul and the eastern city of Sokcho in Gangwon Province. Categorized as a subcompact crossover sports utilit

July 28, 2024

Kia posts record operating profit in Q2

Kia logged another record profit in the second quarter on Friday, driven by an enhanced product mix, higher average selling price and favorable exchange rates. During the April-June period, Kia achieved two new records -- 3.64 trillion won ($2.63 billion) in operating profit and a 13.2 percent operating profit margin -- in second-quarter earnings, continuing to break records for two straight quarters. The automaker’s quarterly operating profit increased by 7.1 percent in comparison to the

July 26, 2024

Hybrid sales drive up Hyundai Motor's Q2 earnings

Hyundai Motor Company on Thursday reported a record-breaking quarterly revenue for the second quarter of this year, marking a 6.6 percent increase from last year to reach 45.02 trillion won ($32.6 billion). The company attributed the results to an improved sales mix driven by the rising popularity of hybrid vehicles, which accounted for a double-digit proportion of sales for the first time, along with favorable currency exchange rates. In the same April-June period, Hyundai's operating prof

July 25, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Lamborghinis will always have steering wheel'

Automakers around the world are racing to develop advanced technology in autonomous driving and battery-powered vehicles. But for Italian luxury supercar brand Lamborghini, those are not the main concerns. “Lamborghini will always have a steering wheel in the cars,” said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Automobili Lamborghini in a video interview with a group of Korean reporters after the opening ceremony of Lamborghini Bundang in Gyeonggi Province. “We might have assisted driving

July 25, 2024