-
LG Energy Solution funds flight for workers after US raid
LG Energy Solution has pledged to ensure the safe transport of detained workers released in Georgia, funding a Korean Air charter flight valued at around $1 billion. “We sincerely apologize for the distress caused to our employees, partners and their families due to the recent events,” the company said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and cooperation from the Korean government and officials in both Korea and the US, and for the swift release of the detainees alo
Sept. 11, 2025 -
Samsung Display eyes bolstering mobility portfolio with OLED solutions
Samsung Display Co. will continue efforts to expand its mobility portfolio amid growing demand for organic light-emitting diode solutions in self-driving vehicles, a senior company official has said. Lee Joo-hyung, who heads the firm's mobile display business, made such remarks during a business conference Wednesday (German time) at the IAA Mobility 2025, Europe's largest mobility trade show, under way in Munich, Germany. "Display is emerging as the connecting point between automobiles and peopl
Sept. 11, 2025 -
FM Cho pledges to 'rescue' Korean detainees 'within shortest time'
Seoul's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun vowed Wednesday to "rescue" South Koreans detained in a recent US immigration crackdown "within the shortest time," as his ministry cited "unspecified US circumstances" as the reason for a delay in their release from a detention center in Georgia. Cho's remarks came as he is set to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House to discuss a range of issues concerning the detainees. They were initially scheduled to meet Tuesday, but their talks were re
Sept. 11, 2025 -
Foreign carmakers cut local dealers' role as direct sales gain ground
Foreign carmakers are accelerating a shift in Korea toward direct sales, cutting back the traditional role of dealers, who have long controlled inventory and pricing. By moving to company-set prices and online platforms, automakers aim to secure higher margins and build greater consumer trust, though pushback from dealers and mixed results abroad suggest the transition will be anything but smooth. Mercedes-Benz is currently taking the most visible steps. Since August, Mercedes-Benz Korea has bee
Sept. 10, 2025 -
Hyundai Motor unveils small EV concept to expand Ioniq lineup
Hyundai Motor has unveiled Concept Three, a new small, hatchback-style electric vehicle, offering a glimpse of what the automaker’s next EV might look like. Premiering the Concept Three on Tuesday at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, the Korean automaker said the design embodies its EV brand Ioniq’s vision for an expanded lineup of fully battery-powered cars. Hyundai Motor’s earlier release of the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Ioniq 9 followed the automaker's unveiling of the semi-midsized concept EV 45 in 20
Sept. 9, 2025 -
Seoul to host intl. mobility conference with OECD transport body in Seoul
The government will host an international mobility conference this week with the International Transport Forum, the transport governing body of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in Seoul, officials said Monday. The 2025 Global Mobility Conference will run for two days from Tuesday under the theme of "Future Together: Innovation of Unlocking Progress." Discussions will cover the commercialization of autonomous driving and urban air mobility, and mobility rights for disadv
Sept. 8, 2025 -
Foreign Minister Cho to hold urgent meeting on US immigration crackdown
South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will preside over an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss responses after US immigration authorities arrested hundreds of South Korean nationals in a major raid at a South Korean plant construction site in Georgia. The meeting will be attended by two vice foreign ministers, top foreign ministry officials and those from relevant South Korean overseas diplomatic missions, the ministry said. US authorities arrested 457 people -- more than 300 of them South K
Sept. 6, 2025 -
Korea urges US clarification after 300+ Koreans detained in immigration raid at Hyundai-LG site
The Korean government expressed “grave concern” Friday after US authorities raided Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution’s joint venture battery plant construction site in Georgia, detaining about 450 undocumented workers, including some 300 Korean nationals. In a press briefing later in the day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it had “requested the US government to swiftly clarify the facts and ensure the protection of the legitimate rights of Korean companies and related personn
Sept. 5, 2025 -
South Korea assessing impact on autos of Japan trade order signed by Trump, official says
South Korea is assessing the potential impact of US President Donald Trump on Thursday signing an order to implement Japan's trade deal that includes a lower 15 percent tariff on autos imported into the US, a Seoul trade official said on Friday. The lower tariffs on Japanese autos are set to take effect seven days after publication of the order. The move would put South Korean automakers at a competitive disadvantage to Japanese rivals, as US tariffs on South Korean auto imports remain at 25 per
Sept. 5, 2025 -
BMW Korea marks 30th year with Lee Kun-yong i7 showcase
BMW Korea is marking its 30th anniversary with a bold fusion of art and mobility, unveiling a special collaboration with Korean artist Lee Kun-yong at Frieze Seoul 2025. The project wraps Lee’s artwork around the German automaker’s flagship electric sedan, the BMW i7, which is on public display at Coex in southern Seoul this week. In an interview at the art fair on Wednesday, Joo Yang-ye, head of brand management at BMW Korea, said the collaboration underscores how BMW’s hallmark traits of dynam
Sept. 4, 2025 -
LG Energy Solution deepens Mercedes-Benz ties with massive battery deals
LG Energy Solution has reportedly signed a 15 trillion won ($10.8 billion) deal to supply 46-series cylindrical batteries for Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles bound for the US and European markets, strengthening its position over Chinese competitors. According to LG Energy Solution’s regulatory filing on Wednesday, the company has signed two contracts with Mercedes-Benz to supply 75 gigawatt-hours of EV batteries for the US and 32 gigawatt-hours for Europe. The US agreement runs from July 30, 202
Sept. 3, 2025 -
Kia EV5 makes debut as affordable family EV
Kia has officially launched the Kia EV5, an electric sport utility vehicle, to offer an alternative for customers looking for a mid-sized electric family vehicle in Korea. Following the launches of the EV6, EV9, EV3 and EV4, Kia’s latest model EV5 comes with best-in-class safety and features, Kia said Wednesday. “Based on excellent space utilization from a traditional SUV body type, the Kia EV5 is a representative model that will propose a new standard for the era of EV popularization in Korea,”
Sept. 3, 2025 -
Lamborghini brings supercar lifestyle to Busan
Automobili Lamborghini has opened a new flagship showroom in Busan, underscoring its confidence in Korea’s fast-growing luxury car market. The Italian supercar maker’s new facility in the city’s affluent Centum district spans three floors and 2,710 square meters, making it one of the brand’s largest worldwide and the second-largest in Asia after Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It will serve as Lamborghini’s hub for sales and customer service across southern Korea. “Busan is Korea’s second city. It
Sept. 2, 2025 -
Posco International to supply W600b drive motor cores to US EV maker
Posco International has signed an agreement to supply drive motor cores worth 600 billion won ($431 million) for a US-based electric vehicle company. According to media reports Tuesday, the supply deal covers a total of 3 million motor cores, a key component of electric vehicle motors that convert electrical energy into mechanical motion, with the unit price per 1 million cores estimated at 200 billion won. Posco International has declined to disclose the details of the agreement, including the
Sept. 2, 2025 -
Atlas 2 vs. Optimus: Hyundai, Tesla battle for humanoid edge
Boston Dynamics, Hyundai Motor Group’s robotics subsidiary based in Massachusetts, recently created buzz after releasing a video clip featuring its Atlas 2 humanoid robot, developed in partnership with Toyota Research Institute. The spotlight is on the Atlas 2 as the first humanoid robot to fully integrate Large Behavior Models that control its entire body, enabling stable, flexible movements to effectively navigate unpredictable industrial tasks. This innovation raises the question of whether t
Sept. 2, 2025