[Photo News] Kia EV5 unveiled

Kia on Tuesday unveiled its fifth all-electric model, the EV5 — the first SUV addition to the carmaker's previously sedan-based EV lineup. While key details such as driving range remain undisclosed, the exterior design features a boxy yet dynamic silhouette. A standout interior element is the panoramic wide display, which integrates a 12.3-inch digital cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 5-inch climate control display into the crash pad. The EV5 is set for official launch later this y

July 8, 2025

GM Korea's labor dispute intensifies over possible walkout, facility sale tensions amid US tariff woes

An ongoing labor dispute at GM Korea, the South Korean unit of General Motors, has escalated as the union secured the legal right to strike following a breakdown in wage negotiations, sources said Monday, fueling concerns that the American auto giant may scale back its production in South Korea amid the threat of US auto tariffs. According to the sources, the National Labor Relations Commission earlier in the day suspended its mediation of wage negotiations between GM Korea's management and the

July 7, 2025

LG Energy Solution returns to profit in Q2 on strong US demand

LG Energy Solution said Monday that it posted a profit in the second quarter of this year, primarily driven by its stellar performance in electric vehicle and energy storage systems in the North American market. According to the company’s preliminary earnings, from April to June, its operating profit skyrocketed 152 percent to 492.2 billion won ($360.5 million), while sales revenue slipped 9.7 percent to 5.56 trillion won from the previous year. This figure marks the first time in six quarters t

July 7, 2025

BMW 5 Series sells over 10,000 cars in Korea in H1

BMW Korea, the subsidiary of the Germany-based luxury vehicle manufacturer, announced Monday that its flagship premium sedan, the 5 Series, had sold more than 10,000 vehicles cumulatively for the first half of 2025. The model recorded 12,786 units sold from January to June, marking a 15 percent increase from the same period last year. The 5 Series continues to show strong demand in the Korean market, offering robust standard features on entry-level trims, alongside a broad range of power train o

July 7, 2025

Hyundai Glovis cuts inventory time 90% with drones

Hyundai Glovis, the logistics affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, announced Monday that it has reduced inventory inspection time by 90 percent through the application of drone technology at the group’s plant in Georgia. The company deployed two drones to the consolidation center at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in the first half of 2025 to monitor inventories of unassembled parts. According to Hyundai Glovis, each inventory check now takes an average of 30 minutes in the facility, a reduct

July 7, 2025

Can new policies help Korea catch up in autonomous driving?

South Korea’s autonomous vehicle industry is at a crossroads as the government prepares to unveil a new R&D roadmap to address regulatory challenges and embrace innovative technologies. With global competitors like Tesla and Waymo rapidly advancing, industry watchers suggest that the Korean government should adopt practical strategies to foster the growth of this key artificial intelligence innovation. According to media reports on Sunday, the industry ministry plans to unveil an autonomous driv

July 6, 2025

South Korea’s gas stations continue steady decline

The number of gas stations in South Korea has been steadily shrinking, with nearly 1,000 shutting down over the past 6 1/2 years, according to government data. Data from Opinet, a crude oil price information platform operated by the state-run Korea National Oil Corp., shows that the country had 11,499 gas stations in 2019. That figure fell 8.4 percent to 10,528 as of the end of June this year. The market peaked in 2010, when 13,004 stations operated nationwide. However, it has been in steady dec

July 6, 2025

McLaren launches hybrid supercar Artura Spider in Seoul

McLaren unveiled a Korea-inspired limited edition of its hybrid supercar, the Artura Spider, in Seoul on Friday as the UK’s premium auto brand officially marked a fresh beginning for its Korean office with a new local dealership partner, Britannia Auto. “Today marks more than the reopening of McLaren in Seoul,” said Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, chief commercial officer at McLaren, during the Artura Spider launch ceremony held at Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul. “It marks a renewed commitment to this marke

July 4, 2025

Hyundai, Kia outpace competition in safety ratings

Hyundai Motor Group has earned the highest number of top safety recognitions from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety over the past five years, the Korean auto conglomerate said Friday. According to the auto group, its three brands — Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, and Genesis — combined for a total of 106 Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick Plus ratings from the IIHS between 2021 and 2025, followed by Toyota Group with 80 and Volkswagen Group with 62. The IIHS, established in 1959, is a no

July 4, 2025

Peugeot unveils new hybrid SUV to reclaim ground in Korea

Stellantis Korea is ramping up efforts to revive its fading presence in the Korean market with hybrid models, adding a new hybrid sport utility vehicle to its lineup, combining the brand’s signature design with competitive pricing. On Thursday, the company unveiled the all-new Peugeot 3008 Hybrid at a media preview event in Seoul, announcing that official sales will begin on July 11. The mild hybrid SUV is the third hybrid model Peugeot has introduced in Korea in 2025, following the launch of th

July 3, 2025

SK On banks on EV battery deal with Slate for recovery

SK On is aiming for a recovery with an agreement to exclusively supply battery cells to Slate, a US-based electric vehicle startup backed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. According to media reports Thursday, Slate unveiled the Slate Truck to the public in Michigan on Sunday, and the company will host another event in Detroit from Saturday to Sunday. The compact, highly customizable electric pickup truck will launch next year. SK On and Slate announced a supply deal covering 20 gigawatt-hour battery cel

July 3, 2025

Hyundai, Kia brace for tariff impact in US

Despite their recording-setting first-half performance in the US market, Hyundai Motor and Kia are buckling up for the impact of new tariffs as President Donald Trump recently confirmed that the 25 percent levies on auto imports to the US will take effect next week. Hyundai and Kia reported on Wednesday that they sold a record-high 893,152 cars in the US in the first half of this year, up 9.2 percent from the same period last year, with hybrid vehicles leading the growth. Both companies have so

July 3, 2025

Hyundai to unveil Ioniq 6 N in London next week

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's leading carmaker, said Thursday it will unveil its all-electric Ioniq 6 N high-performance model in London next week, ahead of its domestic launch later this year. The company has released a teaser film of the Ioniq 6 N electric sedan on its official YouTube channel. The Ioniq 6 N, Hyundai's second N high-performance electric model following the Ioniq 5 N, will be showcased at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next Thursday, the company said in a press release. The

July 3, 2025

Volvo targets double-digit growth with new XC90, S90

Swedish automaker Volvo Cars vowed to sell 2,500 units of the new XC90 sport utility vehicle and S90 sedan, its flagship premium offerings, in South Korea this year, leveraging its competitive pricing strategies and advanced consumer-centric infotainment services. “The first half of this year was extremely challenging for us, aggravated by Tesla’s aggressive pricing (in Korea), resulting in a 5 percent drop in sales as of June from the previous year,” said Volvo Cars Korea CEO Lee Yun-mo, during

July 2, 2025

Audi debuts A5, Q5 with hybrid tech and AI

Audi Korea on Tuesday launched the new Audi A5 and Q5, looking to accelerate its rebounding momentum to reclaim its top tier standing among the auto importers in the local market. “Korean customers are at the forefront of global automotive trends,” said Steve Cloete, executive director of Audi Korea, during the new models’ launch ceremony at the Conrad Seoul. “You expect more than just performance. You seek philosophy, consistency and an enriching experience. At Audi, we are dedicated to deliver

July 1, 2025