Korea Zinc’s $7.4 billion “Project Crucible” has passed a key US environmental review, accelerating its plans for an integrated critical minerals smelter in Tennessee. The company said Monday that the US Defense Department completed its Final Environmental Assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act. The department officially concluded that the project’s construction and operations will not significantly alter the surrounding environment. The evaluation examined air quality, greenhous

Hyundai Motor Group is exploring plans to deploy Atlas humanoid robots at its Czech manufacturing plant, positioning Europe as the next strategic proving ground after the US for its robotics-powered smart manufacturing vision. Developed by its US subsidiary Boston Dynamics, the robot’s deployment in Hyundai’s own European lines offers a critical real-world testbed to validate operational reliability, safety and workplace integration. If successful, it could pave the way for broader commercial ro

LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun urged employees to turn artificial intelligence into tangible business results, calling for its wider use to improve manufacturing efficiency and strengthen products and services. Speaking at the fifth LS Future Day at LS Tower in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, Friday, Koo said the group should embrace AI adoption and move faster than its industry peers. Launched in 2022 after Koo took office, the annual event brings together employees across the group to share new busin

Electric sedans have a packaging problem: Batteries need space, passengers want more of it and neither should come at the expense of the low, elegant profile that defines a sedan. Volvo believes its new ES90 has found a way around that compromise. The electric flagship pairs executive-sedan proportions with SUV-like space and ground clearance — a formula that has already drawn more than 3,500 preorders in South Korea since late June, according to Volvo Car Korea. The model enters a Korean EV mar

South Korean battery material makers are accelerating efforts to build traceable, non-Chinese supply chains as tighter US rules threaten federal clean energy incentives for products linked to China. LS-L&F Battery Solution, a joint venture between LS Group and L&F, has begun qualification tests to make precursor materials — blends of metals used in cathodes —using metal sulfates produced by LS Group affiliate LS MnM, according to reports Thursday. If testing is completed as planned, LLBS could b

A new US order targeting foreign-linked power-grid equipment appears, at first glance, to give South Korean battery makers an opening against their dominant Chinese rivals. But Ford’s use of technology licensed from China’s CATL shows why the competitive benefit may be smaller than expected. Ford argues that batteries produced at its wholly owned Michigan plant are American-made despite relying on CATL technology. That ownership structure could help the automaker navigate Washington’s latest res

Hyundai Motor Group’s autonomous driving subsidiary, 42dot, is accelerating its drive to narrow the technology gap with industry leaders Tesla and Waymo. While aiming to facilitate its market entry with Nvidia, the automaker is gearing up to deploy its own Atria AI-powered vehicle fleet in 2029. In a media briefing at 42dot headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, Park Min-woo — 42dot CEO and head of Hyundai’s advanced vehicle platform — emphasized that Hyundai’s global annual sales of 7 milli

Hyundai Motor Group has joined LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Engineering and Wonik PNE to test an energy storage system that repurposes retired electric vehicle batteries to power fast-charging stations. The five participating companies — Hyundai Motor, Kia, LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Engineering and Wonik PNE — launched the pilot Thursday at Wonik PNE’s facility in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Hyundai Motor Group described it as Korea’s first project directly linking used batteries from Hyundai

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said Thursday it will invest 1.07 trillion won ($799 million) in dedicated production facilities for land-based power engines and small modular reactors, targeting rising electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers. Of the total, 833.6 billion won will go toward a new HiMSEN engine production base in Onsan, Ulsan, with an annual capacity of 3 gigawatts. The complex will include dedicated facilities for engine assembly and testing, crankshaft machining

The nearly two-year management control battle between Korea Zinc and the Young Poong-MBK Partners alliance has unfolded as a costly war of attrition marked by repeated legal and shareholder challenges. At Wednesday’s extraordinary general meeting, however, Korea Zinc management under Chair Choi Yun-birm gained a clear tactical advantage, securing broad shareholder support in a pivotal vote for an independent audit committee seat. Baek In-kyoo, the Korea Zinc board-backed nominee, received suppor

Hyosung Heavy Industries is strengthening its position in the US power equipment market, as early investments in local manufacturing begin to pay off amid surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centers and grid modernization. The company has established US production capabilities for both 765-kilovolt transformers and circuit breakers rated at up to 800 kV, allowing it to supply core equipment for ultrahigh-voltage transmission networks. Hyosung Heavy currently commands nea

Korea Zinc secured a crucial audit committee seat Wednesday, gaining a tactical advantage in its protracted battle for management control against the Young Poong-MBK Partners alliance. At an extraordinary shareholders' meeting held at a Seoul hotel, Korea Zinc board-backed nominee Baek In-kyoo was elected with 5,092,815 votes, representing 81.8 percent of voting rights represented at the meeting. Park Yoo-kyung, nominated by Young Poong and MBK, failed to be elected after receiving 1,739,065 vot

Posco said Tuesday it will invest 480 billion won ($357 million) to expand production capacity for premium automotive galvanized iron and secure a competitive edge in the next-generation mobility market. Earlier in the day, the Korean steelmaker broke ground on the eight continuous galvanizing iron production line (8CGL) at its Gwangyang Steelworks in South Jeolla Province. Capable of producing 450,000 metric tons annually, the line will focus on manufacturing high-grade hot-dip galvanized steel

HMM said Tuesday it signed a 4.7 trillion won ($3.5 billion) long-term shipping contract with Vale, Brazil’s major mining company. Under the agreement, HMM will deploy eight 210,000-ton Newcastlemax bulk carriers under 25-year contracts per vessel starting in 2030. This marks HMM’s third major deal with Vale, following two 10-year agreements signed in May and September last year. The eco-friendly Newcastlemax vessels will feature the world’s first trifuel engines capable of running on methanol,

HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun met with Gilberto Teodoro Jr., secretary of national defense of the Philippines, in Seoul on Monday to explore ways to deepen their strategic partnership across shipbuilding and naval defense. During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed a decade of defense ties and agreed to broaden cooperation aimed at modernizing the Philippine Navy and boosting the competitiveness of the local shipbuilding industry. Their defense ties dates back to 2016, when HD Hyundai Heavy