South Korea Automotive Sales (April 2025)

• Domestic vehicle sales rose 7% YoY in April 2025 to 127,639 units, driven by new product launches from Hyundai and Kia.
• Overall domestic demand remains sluggish due to high debt and weak consumer sentiment, despite central bank rate cuts to 2.75%.
• Jan-Apr 2025 domestic sales increased 3.3% to 456,450 units.
  • Hyundai's sales rose 4.5%, while Kia's sales slightly increased.
  • Renault Korea surged 160%, driven by the Grand Koleos.
  • KG Mobility and GM Korea declined significantly.

Global Sales for "Big-Five":

• Jan-Apr 2025 global sales for Hyundai, Kia, GM Korea, KG Mobility, and Renault Korea increased slightly to 2,619,244 units.

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Hyundai

• April global sales up 2% to 353,338 units.
• Domestic sales up 6%, overseas sales up 1%.
• US EV plant operational, expanding capacity to 500k units/year.
• 2025 global sales target: 4,174,000 vehicles, focusing on EVs and localized production.

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Kia

• April global sales up 5% to 274,437 units.
• Domestic sales up 7.4%, overseas sales up 4.6%, driven by the US market (+21%).
• Plans new Tasman pickup and EV models.
• 2025 global sales target: 3,216,200 units.
• Long-term goal: 4.3 million global sales by 2030, including 1.6 million BEVs.

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GM Korea

• April global sales down 6.3% to 41,644 units.
• Domestic sales down 42%, exports down 4.3%.
• Considering relocating operations to the US if tariffs on Korean cars increase permanently (85% of output currently exported to the US).

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KG Mobility (KGM)

• April global sales down 11% to 8,642 units.
• Domestic sales fell 3%, overseas sales dropped 10%.
• Expanding zero-emissions vehicle range and partnering with Chery for NEV technology.

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Renault Korea

• April global sales down 1% to 10,427 units.
• Domestic sales tripled, exports fell 41%.
• Focusing on SUVs, BEVs, and hybrids; producing Geely Polestar 4 BEV at Busan plant from 2H 2025.

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Labviva Expansion to Europe

• Labviva, an AI procurement platform for life sciences, is expanding to Europe with an international HQ in London.
• Appointed Carlo Iannicola as GM of Europe.
• Aims to improve pharmaceutical R&D by supporting the EU Health Public Procurement Alliance and the EU Critical Medicines Act.
• Platform connects research organizations with 90% of US and European life sciences manufacturers, reducing procurement management costs and increasing productivity.

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GM 3D Printing

• GM is using additive manufacturing for production parts in low-volume vehicles like the Cadillac CELESTIQ, which has over 130 3D-printed parts.
• The CELESTIQ steering wheel center is GM’s largest 3D-printed metal part, created via stereolithography and metal laser powder bed fusion.
• The adjustable seat belt guide loop is the first safety-related component made with additive manufacturing.
• GM also uses 3D printed components in Cadillac V-Series Blackwing models and motorsports vehicles.

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Ford CEO Jim Farley on Tariffs and Manufacturing

• Jim Farley, Ford’s CEO, is optimistic about Ford's future despite supply chain disruptions.
• Believes Ford is "advantaged" by its US manufacturing base amid the Trump administration's focus on American manufacturing.
• Working with the White House to balance affordability and domestic manufacturing.
• Trump's deal with China makes parts more affordable for Ford.
• Tariffs are viewed as a way to level the playing field with countries that subsidize car companies.
• Concerned about outsourcing critical minerals and semiconductors, advocating for the US to be a net exporter of vehicles.
• Ford faces potential profit reductions due to new tariffs unless reshoring can reduce costs.