Ultium Cells halts construction of Michigan plant amid market slump

Ultium Cells, the joint electric vehicle battery venture between LG Energy Solution and General Motors, has suspended the construction of its third electric vehicle battery plant in the US. This decision comes in response to rising economic pressures, including high interest rates and inflation, as well as a slowdown in the demand for EVs. The $2.6 billion facility in Lansing, Michigan, broke ground in 2022 and was scheduled for completion by the end of this year. Once operational, the plant was

July 22, 2024

[Exclusive] BlueOval SK’s Kentucky plant to start production in 1st half of 2025: official

BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Korean battery maker SK On and US automaker Ford, will begin mass production of batteries at its first plant in Glendale, Kentucky, in the first half of next year, a company official said Wednesday. “We are very excited about Kentucky 1 going online, the first of our three plants,” said Keli McAlister, external affairs director at BlueOval SK in an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul. “There’s a lot of moving parts in a project th

July 18, 2024

Volvo XC40 triumphs as best-selling premium compact SUV

The Volvo XC40 has emerged as Korea’s best-selling premium compact sport utility vehicle in the first half of this year. The XC40 sold 1,089 units between January and June, with its B4 Ultimate all-wheel drive trim leading in single-trim sales, according to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association. In second place for single-trim sales was the MINI Cooper Countryman with 945 units, followed by the BMW X1 2.0 with 727 units. The same XC40 model secured second

July 18, 2024

Kia EV3 boasts array of new technologies for mass-market EVs

Kia on Tuesday presented the most cutting-edge technologies applied to craft the automaker’s latest all-electric vehicle EV3 to auto journalists in Seoul, showcasing several new technologies developed to make the car a leader in popularizing EVs amid slowing EV growth. The EV3 has been equipped with the i-Pedal 3.0, which offers different levels of regenerative braking to allow more flexible ways to slow down the vehicle. Unlike the automaker’s previous i-Pedal technology which only

July 17, 2024

Renault Korea begins mass production of new Grand Koleos

Renault Korea has begun the mass production of its new Grand Koleos at its Busan plant, the company said Tuesday. The company held a ceremony to roll out its new Grand Koleos at the Busan plant on the previous day. The automaker plans to begin delivery of the new sports utility vehicle to customers in autumn. Renault Korea debuted the new Grand Koleos at the 2024 Busan International Mobility Show at Bexco on June 27, marking the first new car from the Renault subsidiary in four years. According

July 16, 2024

[Photo News] Winner of Genesis Scottish Open

Robert MacIntyre, a Scottish professional golfer, has won the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open that took place at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, from Thursday to Sunday. MacIntyre was given the Electrified GV70, an all-electric sports utility vehicle along with the first prize money of $1.58 million. From left in this photo are Song Min-kyu, global head of Genesis, Robert MacIntyre and Chang Jae-hoon, CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. (Hyundai Motor Group)

July 15, 2024

[KH Explains] Are pedal cams the answer to Korea’s sudden acceleration disputes?

In the wake of several tragic car accidents across Korea, pedal cameras are being proposed as a new tool to address the contentious issue of sudden unintended acceleration, or SUA. These cameras, which capture drivers’ foot movements, are being touted as a means to provide clear evidence and settle disputes over the true cause of accidents. The conversation is divided: Should car manufacturers include pedal cameras as standard equipment, or should individual drivers be responsible for inst

July 14, 2024

LG Energy Solution’s AI model to expedite battery cell design

LG Energy Solution said Sunday that it has developed an artificial intelligence solution to substantially shorten the battery cell design period from two weeks to just one day. This significant leap in the initial stage of battery production leverages generative AI techniques to output battery cell designs from clients' specific requirement input. Harnessing the proprietary battery design algorithm, which uses data from approximately 100,000 design cases, the AI model ensures optimal cell

July 14, 2024

[Photo News] Kia electrifies Paju with Wible Biz

Starting Monday, Kia will operate its electric vehicle-sharing service, "Wible Biz," in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. The eco-friendly subscription service enables companies or organizations to rent an electric vehicle during designated business hours on weekdays, while individuals can drive them to commute to work or during weekends. With the service launch, Paju City government officials will use 10 Kia Niro EV vehicles. Other city governments currently subscribed to the service include

July 12, 2024

Genesis to launch GV60 Magma in Korea next year

Genesis will launch the GV60 Magma, a high-performance electric compact crossover sports utility vehicle, in Korea next year to mark the first Magma model to undergo mass production, Hyundai Motor Group's luxury auto brand announced at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed in England's Chichester on Thursday. According to the automaker, the sales of the GV60 Magma are expected to begin during the third quarter of next year in Korea and follow in Europe in the fourth quarter. The company

July 11, 2024

Korea to boost affordability of EVs with new battery recycling scheme

Starting in 2027, consumers in Korea can look forward to purchasing more affordable electric vehicles equipped with reconditioned and tested used batteries. The Korean government, during a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok on Wednesday, unveiled a plan to support the used battery industry, announcing a series of laws, systems, and infrastructure projects. This initiative aims to tackle the growing environmental issue of waste batteries by

July 10, 2024

Korean battery-makers eye turnaround in mass-market EVs

The global battery industry is showing signs of a comeback amid a challenging market, with LG Energy Solution as one of the companies leading the charge. Their advanced nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries, typically reserved for pricier electric vehicles, are set to power upcoming mass-market models such as Kia’s EV3 and General Motors’s Chevrolet Equinox EV, setting the stage for a new era of affordable, high-performance electric vehicles. The past year has been tough for the EV batte

July 9, 2024

[KH Explains] How a hand gesture can turn into a corporate crisis

Renault Korea, the Korean subsidiary of French carmaker Renault S.A., is grappling with a backlash over promotional videos that included a controversial finger-pinching gesture perceived as offensive towards men in South Korea. This gesture has a charged history here, as previous backlashes against it appearing on other content have threatened the sales and reputations of companies and even government institutions. In a video promoting the carmaker's new Renault Grand Koleos vehicle, posted

July 7, 2024

Posco invites Canada JV managers for technical, quality control training

Posco Future M, the battery materials company affiliated with Posco Group, said Thursday it has conducted technical training for key employees of its joint venture project with General Motors in Quebec, Canada. A total of 21 members of Ultium CAM, the cathode material-making joint venture set up with the US auto giant General Motors in May 2022, participated in a monthlong program held at the firm’s training center in Seoul and its cathode materials plant in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Provin

July 4, 2024

[Photo News] Kia EV3, Car of the Month

The Korea Automobile Journalists Association on Thursday announced that the Kia EV3, the latest all-electric subcompact crossover sports utility vehicle, has been named the Car of the Month for July. The Kia EV3 beat out the competitors -- the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet, the new Mini Countryman and the new Jeep Wrangler 4xe -- which were launched in the Korean market last month with an overall score of 35 points out of 50. Established in August 2010, the KAJA consists of 58 media outlet

July 4, 2024

Maserati seeks revitalization in Korea

Italian luxury auto brand Maserati on Wednesday signaled a new beginning in Korea as it launched a regional office, seeking a revitalization in the local market. “Maserati for more than 110 years has delivered the excitement on the road in terms of performance, design, innovation and luxury,” said Davide Grasso, CEO of Maserati, in a press conference at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. “Today we are emphasizing our focus in the market as a luxury brand with extreme confidence.

July 3, 2024

Hyundai Motor completes EV ecosystem in Indonesia

Hyundai Motor Group has launched a new joint battery cell manufacturing facility with LG Energy Solution in Indonesia, set to supply cells for Hyundai's upcoming Kona Electric. This makes Hyundai the first automaker in Indonesia with a fully localized production ecosystem for electric vehicles, spanning from battery cells to finished vehicles. Hyundai Motor Group celebrated the opening of the joint HLI Green Power plant in Indonesia's Karawang New Industry City on Wednesday. The event,

July 3, 2024

LG Energy Solution lands major LFP battery deal with Renault

LG Energy Solution, South Korea's largest electric vehicle battery maker, has secured its first major order for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries from French auto giant Renault Group's EV unit Ampere. The contract, announced in Paris on Monday, will see LG Energy Solution supplying pouch LFP batteries for Renault’s next-generation electric vehicles over five years, from late 2025 to 2030. It involves producing about 39 gigawatt-hours of batteries, enough to power approximately 5

July 2, 2024

Hyundai Motor takes aim at Southeast Asia

Hyundai Motor Group is looking to spearhead the burgeoning auto markets within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, based on its established footings in a number of countries in that region, the South Korean auto conglomerate said Monday. According to the automaker, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Indonesia, the conglomerate’s first vehicle manufacturing plant in the ASEAN region, rolled out 22,520 units in the first quarter of this year to reach an overwhelming operation rate

July 1, 2024

[Photo News] Kia for kids

Kia said Monday that it opened up a mobility career experience center at KidZania, a work-experience theme park where children can try various real-life jobs, in Busan. Kia's mobility career experience center consists automotive research facilities, test course of driver's license and driving tracks where young visitors can get a chance to check out different occupations in the mobility sector. The automaker's job world for kids marked the second edition after it set up the previo

July 1, 2024