BMW Korea has reclaimed its position as the leader in the South Korean imported car market for the first time in eight years, surpassing Mercedes-Benz Korea. Sales of eco-friendly cars, including electric and hybrid vehicles, have overtaken gasoline cars.According to the Korea Automobile Importers &
Hyundai Motor Group has achieved its highest-ever sales record in the United States, selling over 1.6 million vehicles last year. This milestone has propelled Hyundai Motor Group, the world’s third-largest automaker, into the top 5 in the U.S., surpassing Japan’s Honda. Last year, the group also ove
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at ldh@sinhan.com -- Ed.HD Hyundai Electric is expected to have earned sales of KRW844bn (+24% YoY) and operating profit of KRW100.9bn (+97% YoY) in 4Q23, beating consensus estimates by 6% and 14%, respectively. Operating margin like
Hanwha's multipurpose unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), the Arion-SMET, has completed a week-long field test conducted by the US Marine Corps and US Army. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone for the robotic vehicle, positioning it as a potential contender in the global UGV market.The fiel
As electric vehicles (EVs) loaded with Chinese batteries have finally been scratched off the list of EVs that can receive tax credits in accordance with the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), voices are growing that the Korean battery industry may enjoy reflective benefits from it. However, a large
In the domestic automotive market, a significant deceleration in the demand for electric cars is becoming apparent. Specifically, there will also be a decrease in government subsidies for electric car purchases this year. The aversion of domestic consumers towards electric cars, which are positioned
LS Cable Asia marks the first trading day of the new year under its revised name, LS Eco Energy. Listed on the Korea Exchange’s KOSPI market since Sept. 22, 2016, LS Eco Energy is strategizing to boost corporate value by venturing into new businesses like undersea cables and rare earth elements.Acco
LG Electronics has announced plans to showcase the future of smart homes powered by artificial intelligence (AI) at the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, CES 2024, scheduled for January 9.The LG Smart Home utilizes AI to comprehensively understand and care for the customer’s li
The foundry business that produces batteries developed and designed by customers is rising as a hot issue in the battery industry with automakers set to launch a large number of new electric vehicle (EV) models this year.The foundry business generally belongs to the semiconductor industry. In the 19
South Korea recorded a trade deficit of US$9.97 billion last year, marking the second consecutive year of deficit since 2022. However, the trade deficit in the past year contracted compared to 2022 when it was US$47.78 billion, primarily due to the recovery in exports in the latter half of the year.
Hyundai Motor announced on Jan. 1 that its IONIQ 5 has been selected as “Car of the Year 2023” in Singapore. The prestigious award, hosted by Singapore's largest daily newspaper, The Straits Times, has been a significant automotive accolade in the region since its inception in 2003. Every year, newl
In 2024, Hyundai Motor Group is focusing its business on transitioning to Purpose-Built Vehicles (PBVs) and Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs).Hyundai Motor Group’s PBV strategy takes its first step with Kia unveiling its PBV lineup at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, after a five-year hiatus
According to industry sources on Jan. 1, Hanwha Ocean is set to make a pioneering move by installing lithium-ion batteries in a 3,000-ton class submarine (KSS-III Batch-II), a first in South Korea's submarine history. Traditionally, submarines operate by using diesel engines to charge batteries, whi
For the first time ever, China has become the world’s number one auto exporter. This is because China increased sales in Russia where carmakers of Western countries, including South Korea, have left the market and enjoyed a sharp increase in electric vehicle sales, which led to a spike in China’s ca
LS Group announced on Dec. 28 that it plans to invest over 2 trillion won to venture into the secondary battery materials sector. LS Corporation, the holding company, and its subsidiary, LS MnM, is set to embark on the construction of production facilities for secondary battery materials in earnest
The imported car market in Korea which has been dominated by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen, is in the midst of a fierce standings battle in the lead up to the end of 2023 so much attention is being paid to whether the market landscape will change. Mercedes-Benz, which has held the top spo
South Korea’s exports will fall by 10% if the world’s major economies split into two groups and strengthen trade barriers against each other, according to a report. However, if Korea promotes export diversification, it will be able to significantly reduce adverse effects.According to the Bank of Kor
Thirty-one electric vehicle (EV) models, or about 80% of all subsidized EV models in the United States this year, use Korean-made batteries, according to sources in the battery industry. This is an increase of 14 in seven months from 17 in April.The 31 subsidized EV models in the United States as of
Recent data indicates that the number of mid-sized companies playing a crucial role as the “backbone” of the domestic economy increased by nearly 100 last year. Both the total revenue and operating profit of mid-sized companies saw an increase of around 10% compared to the previous year, and investm
The South Korean automotive industry has experienced a year of contrasts in 2023. In the first 11 months, the sector achieved its highest ever performance, but the fortunes of individual companies have varied significantly. Hyundai, Kia, and GM Korea continued to grow, leveraging their leading model