2009 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 on 2040-cars

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South Korea firms up fuel economy regs following Hyundai/Kia debacle

According to a report from Reuters, South Korea's government has drafted strict new rules for automakers to follow when calculating fuel economy. The legislation comes after a major snafu by Hyundai and Kia that resulted in the automakers lowering the estimated fuel mileage of many popular models - some by several miles per gallon, including the Soul subcompact above - and compensating owners in the US and Canada for the reduction.
The new fuel economy rules were announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy in South Korea and will see average mileage ratings drop by roughly three to five percent, according to the report. In addition, manufacturers found guilty of overstating mileage figures will be liable for fines of up to $900,000.
These sweeping new regulations will go into effect in the second half of 2013 and, while they won't have any effect on EPA estimates for Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the United States, they are expected to result in new ratings for the two automakers in their home market of South Korea, where they enjoy a whopping 70-percent market share.

South Korea assists auto industry struggling with coronavirus fallout

SEOUL —  South Korea said on Monday it would provide logistical and financial support to help its auto industry through the coronavirus crisis, warning of disruptions to supply chains from Europe and the United States. The government said it would speed up customs clearance, arrange freight transportation and provide liquidity support for the industry, which employs about 12% of South KoreaÂ’s workforce, according to official figures. The coronavirus pandemic has led to shutdowns at auto factories and dealerships in the United States and Europe, which are expected to affect South Korean automakers such as Hyundai and Kia. “ItÂ’s time to prepare for the shock of a global demand contraction and European supply issues,” Industry Minister Sung Yoon-mo said in a meeting with parts supplier executives and industry associations, according to a readout from the ministry. “Survival is the most crucial thing in this unprecedented crisis when both demand and supply contract at the same time.” The ministry gave no details on how much liquidity support the government would provide or what form it might take. The assistance is part of 50 trillion won ($39 billion) in emergency financing announced last week to boost the economy. South Korea has reported 8,961 coronavirus cases and 110 deaths from the disease. Hyundai Motor closed its Montgomery, Alabama, assembly plant on Wednesday after an employee there tested positive for COVID-19. It also suspended production at its plants in the Czech Republic and India due to the coronavirus outbreak. Europe and the United States account for about 70% of Korean automakersÂ’ exports, and 54% of Korean parts exports, government data showed. A trade ministry official said South Korean exports would deteriorate in April and May, after rising 10% year-on-year in the first 20 days of March. Car exports rose 13.7% in the period, customs agency data showed on Monday. “For the time being, a drop in exports of cars and auto-parts are inevitable as car factories and dealerships are closing,” Sung said. South Korean automakers had stocked up on inventories which could last up to two months, Sung said. Related Video: Earnings/Financials Government/Legal Plants/Manufacturing Hyundai Kia coronavirus

2018 Hyundai Kona misses out on IIHS Top Safety Pick

There are many things good about the 2018 Hyundai Kona subcompact crossover SUV. The turbo engine gives it some real get-up-and-go, it handles surprisingly well, and it has a pleasant interior. But apparently it has a feature that's actually not good: the headlights. And they were bad enough that they kept the small crossover from getting the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating. IIHS gave both the standard halogen headlights and the optional LED headlights a "Poor" rating in the organization's testing, the lowest possible score. The standard lights didn't provide enough illumination, and both sets of lights produced too much glare for oncoming drivers. Headlights have been a weak point for many new vehicles despite having crash test scores that would otherwise merit a Top Safety Pick rating. The Kona is no exception in this regard, as it received a "Good" rating, the highest possible score, in all of its crash tests. Also, when equipped with optional forward collision prevention technology, it got the highest rating for crash prevention. This means it was able to stop the car before colliding with an object at speeds up to 25 mph. As such, we would say a Kona is still a good choice as a fun-to-drive, stylish crossover — if you can tolerate the headlights. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: IIHSImage Credit: IIHS Hyundai Safety Crossover SUV Economy Cars hyundai kona