[From the Scene] A rare glimpse into Mercedes' data-driven battery assembly

HEDELFINGEN, Germany -- At Mercedes-Benz’s battery production facility in Hedelfingen, Stuttgart, a group of Korean reporters was recently given a close-up look at how the automaker assembles the battery packs that power its flagship electric vehicles, the EQS and EQE. The visit offered a rare glimpse into the detailed, highly automated process that Mercedes-Benz takes on to ensure the reliability of its EV batteries. “Every little part is recorded and can be kept for up to 30 years

Nov. 4, 2024

Hyundai renews hydrogen vision with more advanced Initium SUV

Hyundai Motor on Monday introduced a concept version of Initium, a hydrogen fuel-cell sport utility vehicle, adding a new chapter to its 27-year commitment toward renewable energy solutions. “The new addition to the hydrogen-powered SUV lineup will debut next year,” said Chang Jae-hoon, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor, at a press conference at Hyundai Motor Studio in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. “Moving beyond mobility, we have introduced our hydrogen value chain business, H

Oct. 31, 2024

[Photo News] Carnival for quintuplets

Korean automaker Kia said Thursday that it has donated a 2025 Carnival, the automaker's latest edition of its signature nine-seat minivan, to the parents of quintuplets in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province. The quintuplets -- two girls and three boys -- were born Sept. 20. The automaker also donated 30 million won ($21,800) to the city of Dongducheon to support households with more than one child, as the country struggles with a low birth rate. (Hyundai Motor Group)

Oct. 31, 2024

[From the Scene] Crash-tested, fire-proofed: Mercedes shows Korea how it keeps EVs safe

SINDELFINGEN, Germany -- A bright orange Mercedes EQS 450 electric sedan sped down a spotless track, reaching 64 kilometers per hour before slamming into a massive concrete wall. The front end crumpled like a soda can, but a bright ring of 72 lights immediately illuminated the wreck as high-speed cameras captured every millisecond from all angles. On Oct. 22, Mercedes let a group of reporters from South Korea witness a full-scale crash test up close at its Vehicle Safety Technology Center in S

Oct. 31, 2024

Touareg drives Volkswagen’s push into Korea’s premium SUV market

In response to South Korea’s surging appetite for luxury SUVs, Volkswagen is doubling down with an upgraded Touareg that emphasizes advanced technology and understated elegance. Launched in August, the third-generation 2024 Touareg positions Volkswagen to compete in a market where SUVs now dominate imported car sales, driven by demand for both versatility and premium features. The third-generation 2024 Touareg has received a subtle design makeover that focuses on clean lines and understate

Oct. 31, 2024

Bentley’s fastest luxury coupes arrive in Korea with hybrid power

Bentley Motors Korea launched two of its most powerful and luxurious coupes in the Korean market: the fourth-generation Continental GT Speed and the Continental GTC Speed, its convertible counterpart, at Bentley Seoul Gangnam on Wednesday. The new Continental GT Speed is the most powerful street-legal vehicle in Bentley's history -- a term used for extremely high-performance cars that are still legal to drive on regular roads, unlike racing cars. Bentley has equipped both models with a plu

Oct. 31, 2024

Samsung SDI-Stellantis JV to start US production in December

Samsung SDI unveiled details on its first electric vehicle battery production in the US in partnership with Stellantis and General Motors during its third-quarter earnings announcement Wednesday. “The joint venture with Stellantis, Starplus Energy, marks Samsung SDI’s first foray into battery cell manufacturing in the US,” said Son Michael, executive vice president of automotive & ESS business at Samsung SDI, during a conference call earlier in the day. “The initial p

Oct. 30, 2024

[Photo News] Ioniq 9 sneak peek

Hyundai Motor teases the Ioniq 9, their newest electric offering in the large sport utility vehicle market. The design is inspired by the smooth lines of a boat, slashing air resistance and boosting the SUV’s efficiency. The teaser hints at a flowing roofline for increased headroom and a silhouette that suggests a spacious cabin. Hyundai will fully reveal the Ioniq 9 next month. (Hyundai Motor Company)

Oct. 30, 2024

Busan adding longer-haul flights with Bali route to start Wednesday

Longer international flights are being added at Gimhae International Airport, starting with a new route to Bali, Indonesia, the Busan city government said Tuesday. Starting Wednesday, flights to Bali operated by Air Busan will take off four times a week from the Busan airport. This is the first regular flight longer than 5,000 kilometers to be scheduled from an airport outside Seoul and Incheon. Until now, the farthest destination served by Gimhae Airport was Singapore, around 4,600 kilometers f

Oct. 29, 2024

[KH Explains] How LG Energy Solution’s bold bet paid off with Tesla, Mercedes deals

Cylindrical 4680 batteries, named for their 46-millimeter diameter and 80-millimeter height, are hailed as a pivotal advanced battery technology in electric vehicles due to enhanced energy storage capacity and power output. Tesla, a trailblazer in the EV industry, gained acclaim with its affordable electric vehicles powered by these cost-effective small batteries, comparable in size to the AA batteries used in handheld devices. To produce bigger cylindrical cells that allow higher productivity

Oct. 29, 2024

Hyundai, rival carmakers urge US to delay Chinese tech ban

Global automakers, including Hyundai Motor, Toyota and General Motors, are urging the US government to delay new restrictions on Chinese-made parts used in connected vehicles. The proposed regulations, which aim to limit Chinese and Russian components in vehicles with advanced communication and autonomous driving features, are raising concerns not only among automakers but also from Mexico, where many companies affected by the rules have invested in production facilities. According to Reuters on

Oct. 29, 2024

Why Kia’s first pickup isn't debuting in US

Kia’s first-ever pickup, the Tasman, is unlikely to debut in the US, the world’s largest pickup truck market, largely due to lower profitability amid protectionist policies there. “We do not have plans to sell the Tasman pickups in the US because of the hefty tariffs imposed on Korea-made pickups under the free trade agreement between the two nations,” a Kia official told The Korea Herald at the Tasman’s media unveiling event in Seoul on Monday. The official also

Oct. 29, 2024

[Herald Interivew] Mercedes stands by Farasis batteries in EV fire scrutiny

STUTTGART, Germany -- Following a fire involving a Mercedes-Benz EQE electric vehicle in South Korea in August, executives are defending their use of batteries from Chinese supplier Farasis Energy, even as investigations continue to probe the cause of the incident. The August fire, which occurred in the basement of an apartment building in Incheon, has raised questions around the safety of the vehicle's battery cells and the automaker’s quality control practices. During an Oct. 21 med

Oct. 28, 2024

Mercedes-Benz raises Drive Pilot speed limit

Mercedes-Benz announced Monday that it is upgrading its automated driving system, Drive Pilot, allowing it to operate at speeds of up to 95 kilometers per hour on German motorways. The upgrade is expected to be available in early 2025, following this year’s anticipated approval from Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority. With this update, Drive Pilot will become the fastest Level 3 automated driving system in a production vehicle. The enhanced system will allow drivers to hand

Oct. 28, 2024

[Photo News] Passion for motorsports

Hyundai Motor and Toyota -- two of the world's largest automakers -- organized the Hyundai N x Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival at the Everland Speedway in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. The two companies said they aimed to offer an event to delight motorsports fans. The event featured driving performances by professional racers, an exhibition of high-performance vehicles from the two brands and opportunities to ride along on the racing track. In this photo, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Ch

Oct. 27, 2024

Kia logs record-high operating profit for 3Q

Hyundai Motor Group’s smaller affiliate Kia said Friday that it has posted 2.9 trillion won ($2.1 billion) in operating profit, marking the highest ever for a third quarter, despite mounting challenges in the automotive industry. The carmaker’s profit increased 0.6 percent from the same period last year, while its sales revenue surged 3.8 percent to 26.5 trillion won. The sales volume decreased 1.9 percent to 763,639 units, due to a temporary production hiatus from its two car manufa

Oct. 25, 2024

[From the scene] How a Mercedes plant is turning dead EV batteries into fresh materials

KUPPENHEIM, Germany -- A two-hour drive southwest of Mercedes-Benz’s Stuttgart headquarters, a new facility in the small town of Kuppenheim is poised to play a big role in the auto giant’s sustainability efforts. On Monday, brightly lit tanks, each glowing with a different hue, lined the walls of the 6,800-square-meter space, labeled with symbols for essential elements: lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese. This is not a scene from a sci-fi movie, but a staged media presentation -

Oct. 24, 2024

[KH Explains] Tesla’s vague robotaxi vision may let Hyundai-Waymo narrow gap

Tesla’s recent unveiling of its Robotaxi prototype has generated some buzz, but the absence of critical details leaves room for competitors -- such as Hyundai Motor Group -- to potentially make up ground in the race toward autonomous vehicles. While Tesla remains a dominant force in electric vehicles and self-driving technology, its latest announcement raises as many questions as it does excitement. At the Tesla event named "We, Robot," held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank,

Oct. 23, 2024

Samsung SDI showcases next-gen battery lineup at mobility show

Samsung SDI said Wednesday it has showcased its battery lineup, ranging from the prismatic battery P6 to the next-generation all-solid-state battery, at the Daegu International Future Auto & Mobility Expo. The company’s all-solid-state battery for electric vehicles boasts an energy density of 900 watt-hours per liter with a cathode-free structure. It is known to be theoretically safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries that use flammable liquid electrolytes. It sent samples to cli

Oct. 23, 2024

[Hello India] Hyundai Motor makes landmark stock debut in India

Hyundai Motor India made a monumental debut on the Indian stock market, marking the largest initial public offering in India’s history and the first overseas subsidiary of a Korean company to go public in global markets. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun and key executives, including Chang Jae-hoon, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company; Kim Un-soo, vice president of Hyundai Motor India; Tarun Garg, chief operating officer at Hyundai Motor India; and some 250 people fro

Oct. 22, 2024