Hyundai chief, Saudi crown prince discuss deeper mobility, energy ties

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun met with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh to discuss expanding cooperation across mobility and energy sectors, the Korean automaker said Tuesday. The talks, held Monday at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, marked Chung’s first one-on-one meeting with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader. The two exchanged views on collaboration in automotive manufacturing, smart city development and next-generation energy, as Hyundai seeks to st

Oct. 28, 2025

CATL chief eyes deeper ties with Korean car, battery makers

Robin Zeng, founder and chair of CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, is set to accompany Chinese President Xi Jinping to next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, aiming to bolster partnerships with South Korea’s EV industry. Zeng, 57, has led CATL since founding the company in 2011. He first entered the battery business in 1999 when he co-founded Amperex Technology Limited, a maker of lithium-polymer batteries for consumer electronics, which was later ac

Oct. 28, 2025

Hyundai Motor, Toray deepen ties to develop advanced materials for future mobility

Hyundai Motor Group on Friday signed a joint development agreement with Japan’s Toray Group to cooperate on the development of advanced materials and components for future mobility. In April 2024, Hyundai Motor Group signed a master agreement with Toray Group to jointly develop lightweight and high-strength composite materials, including carbon fiber-reinforced polymer parts to improve mobility performance and ensure safety. Under the agreement signed Friday, which further strengthens the partne

Oct. 27, 2025

[Top 100 Global Innovators] ‘BorgWarner stays step ahead with product leadership’

BorgWarner, a multinational automotive parts supplier, has set eyes on expanding its presence in the electric vehicle and battery sectors in Korea as it is ready to offer products that are already leading in other parts of the global market. “We have already developed high-voltage coolant heaters (HVCHs), which are 100 percent made for EVs,” said Park Kui-seon, general manager of BorgWarner Korea’s turbo, emissions and thermal plants in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and Chungju, North Chungcheo

Oct. 27, 2025

A sports car in EV — Hyundai’s Ioniq 6 N brings the thrill to everyday roads

While their advanced performance and driving dynamics have excited enthusiasts, high-performance models often face the dilemma of limited public appeal due to high prices and a lack of daily comfort. Aiming to broaden appreciation for performance driving through lower barriers to entry, Hyundai Motor Company has combined sports car-like power and handling with everyday practicality in its new high-performance series, the Ioniq 6 N electric sedan. On Thursday, The Korea Herald test-drove Hyundai’

Oct. 26, 2025

Georgia governor meets with SK On CEO for battery cooperation

Gov. Brian Kemp of the US state of Georgia met with the head of South Korean battery maker SK On Co. on Friday to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and strengthen business ties, industry sources said. Kemp and his delegation visited SK On's headquarters in central Seoul earlier in the day and had talks with Lee Seok-hee, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Korean battery manufacturer, according to the sources. The two previously met in June 2024 during Kemp's visit to Seoul. SK On operates a

Oct. 24, 2025

Korea should lead global push for shipping decarbonization: Rystad analyst

Amid geopolitical uncertainties clouding global net-zero efforts, South Korea should take a leading role in accelerating maritime decarbonization at international platforms such as next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, according to a partner analyst at Oslo-based Rystad Energy. “Korea could reaffirm its position as a strong proponent and supporter of decarbonization in the global shipping industry, especially as we’re now at the Kormarine event, building momentum toward APEC,” sa

Oct. 24, 2025

Georgia governor pushes to sustain Korean investment after plant raid

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp met with top executives from Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution during his visit to Seoul this week, as the state and Korean companies work to coordinate follow-up measures after a large-scale US immigration raid at their joint electric vehicle battery plant construction site in Georgia. According to industry sources on Thursday, Governor Kemp held talks with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice President Jang Jae-hoon during his visit to Seoul, which marked the

Oct. 23, 2025

Samsung SDI partners with state-run electrical agency for ESS safety

Samsung SDI said Wednesday that it has forged a partnership with the state-run Korea Electrical Safety Corporation (KESCO) to strengthen safety standards across the nation’s energy storage system industry. Key officials, including Samsung SDI CEO Choi Joo-sun and KESCO President Nam Hwa-young, attended the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony held at Samsung SDI’s Giheung plant in Gyeonggi Province on Monday. Under the agreement, the two parties will collaborate on enhancing ESS safety p

Oct. 22, 2025

SK On CEO pledges safety-led growth in ESS market

SK On CEO and President Lee Seok-hee has pledged to accelerate the company’s technological leadership in energy storage systems, highlighting safety as a key growth strategy. According to SK On on Tuesday, Lee delivered a special lecture on Monday at Yonsei University in Seoul, speaking to professors and graduate students from battery and energy-related departments. “Global demand for ESS is rapidly rising as the renewable energy sector continues to grow,” Lee said. “The ESS business will serve

Oct. 21, 2025

Do Seoulites really need e-scooters or e-bikes? The city isn't sure either

Seoul once had a thing for e-scooters. You couldn’t walk a block without dodging one parked sideways on a ramp or abandoned mid-sidewalk like a lost shopping cart. In theory, they were perfect for short trips that felt too far to walk but too close to justify a cab. But now? Many of the scooters are gone. “I used to ride one almost every day to get from my house to the subway,” said Kim Ji-won, a 24-year-old university student living in Seoul’s hilly Gwanak district. “I admit, I didn’t always we

Oct. 21, 2025

Posco Future M to begin Quebec cathode plant operations in October 2026

Posco Future M plans to begin delayed operations at its joint cathode materials plant with General Motors in Quebec, Canada, next October, signaling a renewed push to expand its presence in the North American electric vehicle battery supply chain. According to media reports on Monday, Posco Future M finalized a schedule to begin phase 1 operations at its joint venture, Ultium CAM, in late October 2026. The joint venture, owned 85 percent by Posco Future M and 15 percent by GM, will produce 20,00

Oct. 20, 2025

Hyundai Motor tops Korean firms on Time’s global top 100

Hyundai Motor has been ranked No. 33 on the list of the world’s best companies surveyed by Time magazine, becoming the only Korean company to make the top 100. The Korean automaker received an overall score of 91.36 points while jumping 159 spots from 2024’s rankings, as the company’s employee morale and business performance have excelled worldwide. According to Hyundai Motor, its annual internal employee satisfaction survey showed 79.4 points last year, the highest ever score. The company also

Oct. 20, 2025

BYD’s Sealion 7 hits Korean roads strong

Launched in Korea in September, BYD’s electric SUV Sealion 7 sold 825 units in its debut month, becoming the fourth best-selling imported model in the country. Offering comfortable driving performance at an accessible price, the Chinese EV maker’s third passenger model in Korea marks BYD’s breakthrough following sluggish sales of its first two models. On Oct. 14, The Korea Herald test-drove the Sealion 7 over a 130-kilometer route between Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and Dangjin, South Chungcheong

Oct. 20, 2025

Genesis launches upgraded GV70 with improved features, options

Genesis, the luxury brand of Hyundai Motor Group, on Monday launched an upgraded version of its mid-sized GV70 sport utility vehicle with enhanced features and optimized package options. The new GV70 comes with an improved noise, vibration and harshness control feature. The model is equipped with additional sound-absorbing materials, with the 2.5 Turbo variant including an engine support damper that reduces vibration. It also comes in new package offerings to give customers more flexible choices

Oct. 20, 2025