GM Korea CEO reaffirms commitment amid tariff worries

Amid concerns over a potential withdrawal due to tariff threats from US President Donald Trump's administration, Hector Villarreal, General Motors Korea president and CEO, reaffirmed his commitment to the company’s domestic operations. According to the company, Villarreal visited the Chevrolet Shinchon dealership on Friday, where he highlighted a focus on "achieving sales growth this year by offering world-class premium vehicles from GM’s global brands, including Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC, to

March 4, 2025

Innometry to showcase noninvasive X-ray inspection tech for EV batteries

Innometry said Monday it will present its noninvasive X-ray inspection solutions for electric vehicle batteries at this week’s InterBattery expo in Seoul. The company will showcase its X-ray and 3D CT technology used to analyze the internal structure of the car batteries to identify manufacturing defects and help prevent EV fires. Specifically, the equipment is designed to monitor whether the internal electrodes in batteries of various form factors ― such as prismatic, pouch and cylindrical ― ar

March 3, 2025

Samsung SDI powers Hyundai Motor’s AI robots, self-driving tech

Samsung SDI announced Monday that it would showcase new battery technologies for Hyundai Motor Group's robots and autonomous vehicles at the upcoming InterBattery 2025 expo in Seoul. At its exhibition booth, the company will feature DAL-e, a service robot developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia, which runs on a battery pack powered by Samsung SDI’s 21700 cylindrical cells — measuring 21 millimeters in diameter and 70 millimeters in length. The robot will engage with visitors and introduce Samsung SDI

March 3, 2025

SK On, SK Enmove to showcase fireproofing solution for EV batteries

SK On said Sunday that it will showcase an advanced thermal management solution for electric vehicle batteries with SK Enmove, its sister company under SK Innovation, at the upcoming battery exhibition in Seoul. The company’s battery pack, currently under development with the lubricant supplier, features “immersion cooling technology” that enhances cooling efficiency through an optimized fluid flow design, maximizing the contact area between thermal fluids and cells. Immersion cooling is a therm

March 3, 2025

[KH Explains] Will Northvolt's fall ease talent shortage for Korean battery makers?

Northvolt, backed by Volkswagen Group, was once hailed as Europe’s hope for an electric vehicle battery champion to challenge the creeping presence of Asian competitors. In a bid to spur growth, the Swedish battery maker hired dozens of battery researchers from Korean rivals, promising heftier salaries and a better quality of life -- until recently. After years of financial struggles, however, the company last month filed for bankruptcy protection in the US and its employees reportedly see

Dec. 2, 2024

Hyundai Motor braces for Trump 2.0 with hybrid push

Hyundai Motor Group is expected to ramp up sales of hybrid electric vehicles in the US, bracing for US President-elect Donald Trump’s drastic EV policy changes, sources said Friday. According to Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, the two carmakers already sold 275,103 eco-friendly vehicles in the US from January to October this year, with HEVs accounting for 63.1 percent of these sales. Compared to last year, the cumulative sales until October have surged by 11.3 percent. Last month alone, Hyu

Nov. 29, 2024

Hanwha Ocean forges partnership with UK’s Babcock International

Hanwha Ocean has forged a strategic partnership agreement with Babcock International, a London-based defense company, aiming to expand its footing in the global shipbuilding market. Hanwha Ocean CEO and President Kim Hee-cheol, Babcock International CEO David Lockwood and other executives, including UK’s Second Sea Lord Nick Hine and Mark Goldsack, managing director of business growth and AUKUS at Babcock, attended the signing ceremony Thursday at the Korean shipbuilder’s headquarter

Nov. 29, 2024

[From the Scene] Hyundai Motor unveils lighter, cheaper exoskeleton for factory workers

Factory workers often experience physical strain and injuries as they are exposed to overhead work, heavy lifting and other repetitive tasks. For instance, a Hyundai Motor plant worker on an assembly line has to lift their arms anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 times a day. On Wednesday, Hyundai Motor Group unveiled a new wearable robotic exoskeleton, called “X-ble Shoulder,” which promises to reduce stress on factory workers' joints by up to 60 percent. The first product released in

Nov. 28, 2024

Korea's auto industry braces for Trump’s massive tariffs in Mexico

South Korean automotive and car parts manufacturers are bracing for potential disruptions in their Mexican operations as US President-elect Donald Trump vows to enforce stricter tariffs and cut back on preferential treatment for goods produced in the region. According to industry sources on Tuesday, the Industry of Trade, Industry and Energy recently met with six companies – namely Kia, Hyundai Mobis and LG Innotek – to discuss the impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs. “Mex

Nov. 26, 2024

Why S. Korean refiners are reluctant to import US oil despite Trump’s energy push

As US President-elect Donald Trump assembles his energy team with the aim of expanding oil and gas production in his second term, there may be pressure on allies to import US oil. However, South Korean oil companies, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern suppliers, might hesitate to switch to US crude, industry sources said Monday. Over the weekend, Trump tapped Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, a natural gas fracking company, as the secretary of energy, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to head

Nov. 25, 2024