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Jaguar Land Rover rolls out trust-driven overhaul in Korea
Jaguar Land Rover, British premium car manufacturer, announced the introduction of a new customer care initiative in Korea that aims to address long-standing concerns over consumer trust, which has been a key obstacle to the brand’s growth here. The One Strategy initiative is "designed to redefine what a premium ownership experience means in Korea,” said Robin Colgan, managing director of JLR Korea, during a media conference held Wednesday in Seoul. The strategy includes extending warranty cover
April 30, 2025 -
LG Energy Solution’s Q1 profit surges on cost cuts, ESS pivot
LG Energy Solution said Wednesday it turned a profit in the first quarter, with aggressive measures to improve cost efficiency amid rising uncertainty in the US tariff policies. According to the company’s earnings release, its sales revenue and operating profit rose 2.2 percent and 138.2 percent to 6.26 trillion won ($4.38 billion) and 374.7 billion won, respectively, in the first quarter of this year. Its operating profit margin improved by 9.5 percentage points from the previous quarter, reach
April 30, 2025 -
LG Energy Solution to set up battery recycling JV in Europe for 1st time
LG Energy Solution said Tuesday it is poised to establish a joint venture for electric vehicle battery recycling in France with Derichebourg, a local environmental services company, marking South Korea’s first recycling joint venture in Europe. The new recycling plant, set to be built in the Val d’Oise region of northern France, will start construction next year and become fully operational by 2027. Its annual capacity to process used batteries is expected to be more than 20,000 metric tons. The
April 29, 2025 -
LG Electronics showcases new infotainment solutions with Taiwan's MediaTek
LG Electronics Inc. said Tuesday it has showcased a next-generation in-vehicle infotainment system in collaboration with Taiwan's semiconductor company MediaTek Inc. The system, unveiled at the ongoing Auto Shanghai 2025, allows customers to enjoy different content on multiple displays in a vehicle using only one chip and operating system, according to LG Electronics. Through this collaboration, LG Electronics has integrated MediaTek's "Dimension Auto Platform" system-on-chip with its own multiu
April 29, 2025 -
With US tariffs looming, CATL accelerates Korean shift to protect global sales
China’s CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery juggernaut, has established a sales subsidiary in South Korea, seeking a bigger foothold on the home turf of Korean competitors as part of a strategic move to counteract the impact of Donald Trump’s unprecedented tariffs levied on Chinese goods. Industry insiders project that the bold entry of CATL, capitalizing on its strong price competitiveness, will likely spark intense competition with Korean battery companies. However, local carmak
April 28, 2025 -
Hybrids drive Hyundai, Kia SUV sales
Four out of ten Hyundai Motor Company and Kia sport utility vehicle buyers opted for hybrid models in the first quarter of this year in the South Korean market, highlighting the penetration of dual-power vehicles amid a slowdown in electric vehicle demand. According to industry sources Sunday, Hyundai Motor and Kia sold 150,492 SUVs, of which 59,386 units were hybrids, accounting for 39.5 percent. Last year, the domestic sales of Hyundai and Kia hybrid SUVs nearly doubled from 117,499 units in 2
April 27, 2025 -
SK On scores 20GWh battery supply deal with US EV startup Slate
SK On announced Friday that it has secured a contract with US electric vehicle startup Slate to supply 20 gigawatt-hours of EV batteries as the Korean battery maker continues to expand its customer portfolio in the North American market. The 20 GWh battery supply agreement, which is enough to power about 300,000 mid-sized EVs, will begin next year and last through 2031. Although the value of the contract was not disclosed, industry watchers estimate that the deal is approximately worth 4 trillio
April 25, 2025 -
Hyundai Mobis posts record Q1 earnings on high-value parts, aftersales segment growth
Hyundai Mobis Co., the auto parts arm of Hyundai Motor Group, said Friday its first-quarter operating profit surged 43.1 percent on-year to 776.7 billion won ($541.8 million), marking its highest-ever first-quarter performance, thanks to a rise in demand for high-value components. Sales for the January–March period rose 6.4 percent on-year to also reach a new first-quarter high of 14.75 trillion won, while net profit climbed 19.6 percent to 1.03 trillion won on a consolidated basis, the company
April 25, 2025 -
Hyundai Motor posts record Q1 sales, profit despite US tariff woes
Hyundai Motor Company achieved record-breaking sales and profit for the first quarter amid deepening concerns over the 25 percent tariffs on automobiles and car parts imposed by US President Donald Trump. According to the carmaker’s earnings report on Thursday, its sales revenue increased 9.2 percent to 44.4 trillion won ($31 billion), while its operating profit climbed 2.1 percent to 3.6 trillion won from January to March compared to last year. Its operating profit margin hit 8.2 percent. Hyund
April 24, 2025 -
Volkswagen’s ID.4 and ID.5 gear up to lead Korea’s EV market
Volkswagen is doubling down on its electric mobility strategy in Korea, spotlighting two key models — the ID.4 and the soon-to-launch ID.5. After topping electric vehicle sales in Europe during the first quarter of 2025, the brand is looking to carry that momentum into the Korean market. According to JATO Dynamics, Volkswagen sold over 25,000 EVs in Europe in March alone, overtaking Tesla to become the region’s top EV brand. That success has laid the groundwork for a bigger push in Korea, where
April 24, 2025 -
Mercedes-Benz doubles down on high-end strategy in Korean market
At the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show, Mercedes-Benz Korea gave visitors a glimpse of where luxury driving is headed. Alongside its latest premium models, the brand introduced a range of personalized services designed to reflect the evolving tastes of Korean consumers. This initiative is part of Mercedes-Benz Korea’s broader strategy to elevate its luxury positioning in 2025. By launching high-end vehicles and tailored experiences, the company continues to align with its global vision: “The world’s mo
April 24, 2025 -
Samsung SDI named as Jaguar Land Rover’s top partner
Samsung SDI said Thursday it was selected as a top global partner by Jaguar Land Rover, a UK-based luxury vehicle brand. The ceremony for the JLR Quality Award was held at the battery manufacturer’s plant in Tianjin, China. The Chinese facility is where Samsung SDI produces its 21700 cylindrical battery cells -- 21 millimeters in diameter and 70 millimeters in height –- which it supplies to Jaguar Land Rover for premium models such as the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport through a strategic par
April 24, 2025 -
Kia EV4 delivers sedan comfort with SUV versatility
Kia debuted the EV4, its first full-electric sedan, aiming to shake up the automotive market dominated by sport utility vehicles. This sleek, extended vehicle, the company’s fourth EV model following the EV6, EV9 and EV3, combines comfort with dynamic performance, well-equipped for city driving as well as leisure activities. “The sales volume of SUVs takes up approximately 60-70 percent in Korea. However, we thought there should be a battery-powered sedan to address specific market demands,” sai
April 24, 2025 -
Hansae Mobility to triple US plant size by 2027
Hansae Mobility, a Korea-based automotive parts manufacturer, announced plans on Wednesday to expand its production facility in the US, amid concerns over possible tariffs proposed by US President Donald Trump. “By 2027, we are looking to relocate our US plant to a larger facility near a local plant of our largest client, Stellantis,” Hansae Mobility Vice Chair Kim Ik-hwan said. The plan was unveiled during a media tour of the company’s plant in Daegu — the first such tour since its acquisition
April 23, 2025 -
Grand Koleos keeps up strong pace in Q2, driving Renault Korea's growth
Renault Korea announced Tuesday that its midsize sport utility vehicle, Grand Koleos, is maintaining its strong market presence into the second quarter of 2025, following an impressive performance earlier this year. After winning the “SUV of the Year” award at the 2025 Korea Car of the Year in February, Grand Koleos recorded an average of over 5,000 units sold monthly in the first quarter, accounting for 83 percent of the company’s total sales. The carmaker attributed performance and durability
April 22, 2025