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U.S. VP Harris pledges to consult S. Korea over EV subsidy concerns

TOKYO/SEOUL — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told South Korea's prime minister on Tuesday that Washington will work to address Seoul's concerns over recently enacted electric vehicle (EV) subsidies that could disadvantage Asian automakers. The $430 billion "Inflation Reduction Act" bill enacted in August includes a host of U.S. President Joe Biden's priorities, including investments to roll back climate change and make Washington a world leader in the EV market. Among the law's provisions are requirements that EVs be assembled in North America to qualify for tax credits. The law also ends subsidies for other EV models and requires that a percentage of critical minerals used in those cars' batteries come from the United States or an American free-trade partner. Harris, visiting Japan, met with South Korea's Han Duck-soo and "underscored that she understood (Korean) concerns regarding the Act's tax incentives for electric vehicles, and they pledged to continue to consult as the law is implemented," the White House said. A senior Biden administration official said extensive conversations have already taken place within the U.S. government over how to address South Korea's concerns. "She listened very carefully and made clear our commitment to work within the U.S. government — the U.S. Trade Representative, the Treasury Department — as we look ... to help address that issue," the official said. Biden has sought to deepen business with South Korea as part of a bid to increase U.S. manufacturing jobs and build a united front against China, who he views as the country's key ideological and economic competitor. Korean officials see the new requirements as a betrayal after South Korean companies agreed to make major investments and build factories in the United States. Heavily industrialized South Korea worries the new subsidies will set back Hyundai Motor Co and its affiliate Kia Corp in the world's largest consumer market. Cars are South Korea's third-largest export. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Tokyo, and Soo-hyang Choi and Joyce Lee in Seoul; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Kim Coghill) Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Government/Legal Green Plants/Manufacturing Genesis Hyundai Kia Electric South Korea

Next-gen Kia Optima previewed for New York Auto Show

To say the Optima is a vital product for Kia would be an understatement. In fact, the Korean automaker reports that the sedan has been its best-selling model in America for three years running. Replacing it with an all-new model, then, would be a big move for Kia, and that's exactly what it's gearing up to do. The all-new Optima is previewed here in a pair of teaser renderings, and the car is set to debut at the New York Auto Show. Though Kia has given us little in the way of information to accompany the drawings, it's clear that the design has borrowed heavily from the Sportspace concept that debuted in Geneva earlier this month – albeit in production form, and with a trunk instead of an extended roofline. The outgoing Optima was introduced five years ago and is built at plants around the world for local consumption, including in Georgia for the North American market. This will be the fourth iteration of the breed. KIA TO UNVEIL ALL-NEW OPTIMA AT NEW YORK AUTO SHOW Following its 2010 debut at the New York International Auto Show, the Optima became a catalyst for Kia Motors' tremendous growth and has been the brand's best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for three years running. Now, five years later, Kia will return to New York on Wednesday, April 1, for the world debut of the passionately designed and obsessively crafted all-new version of its popular midsize sedan. Related Video:

2020 Kia Stinger GT-Line becomes only 2.0-liter model on offer

The 2019 Kia Stinger comes in five flavors: 2.0L and Premium with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and GT, GTS, GT1, and GT2 with the 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6. Beyond the engine, the two lowest trims differ from the GT versions with different grilles, bumpers, wheels, and exterior trim. Having seen an early order guide, CarsDirect says Kia will replace the two base models with a single model that's been restyled with GT cues, while raising the price just $100. The new model is called the Stinger GT-Line, a trim that's been available in other markets for a while on everything from the tiny Picanto to the Sorrento crossover; the pictured car is a UK Stinger GT-Line. The model bolts on the grille and bumpers from the GT, black chrome trim and body-colored door handles, plus 18-inch GT-styled wheels. The cabin gets dressed up with a black headliner no matter the interior color, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and headrests embossed with "GT-Line." The price will be $33,090 plus $995 destination, totaling $34,085, a figure that comes in an even $100 above the 2019 Stinger 2.0L. $34,085The loss of the Premium trim leaves a $6,410 gap between the GT-Line and the base GT trim. The Premium was the way to get a long list of luxury and convenience features paired with the four-cylinder, but it was only $110 less dear than the entry GT with the bigger engine but without the feature set. The price of that GT goes up, meanwhile, CarsDirect saying the 2020 GT will start at $40,495 after destination, a $200 increase over the 2019 model. Furthermore, with the Premium gone, the only way to option automatic emergency braking will be to spend more than $46,000 on the GT1 grade.  Engines don't change for next year, the 2.0-liter producing 255 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, the 3.3-liter putting out 365 hp and 376 lb-ft, both shifting through an eight-speed automatic.