MOSCOW Hyundai Motor Co. is hoping to push up sales in Russia by 27 percent to 75,000 units this year.
It is looking to strengthen its position in Russia through localization strategies, which include a new lineup of vehicles designed specifically for the market.
The company plans to produce a new small vehicle, known by the project name RBr, at its St. Petersburg plant next year. Hyundai is hoping the model will play a significant role in improving its brand image and make the most of a recovering market.
Hyundai, the third-largest imported brand in Russia, recorded a year-on-year growth rate of 15 percent for the January-to-August period.
The company’s target is significantly higher than an estimated 17 percent growth for Russia’s overall car market, Hyundai Motor CIS sales and planning director Oh Jae-woon said. The Russian car market is expected to reach 1.71 million units this year.
Russia became Europe’s second largest automotive market in 2008 with about 2.94 million automobiles sold, before sales plummeted to about 1.48 million units last year amid the global financial crisis.
As the overall market suffered, Hyundai’s sales in Russia fell to 59,200 units in 2009, from the nearly 192,000 units recorded in the previous year. Hyundai’s Russian partner for assembly of knock-down kits was also said to have been pushed to the brink of bankruptcy, resulting in a 90 percent fall in the sales of such vehicles.
2010년 9월 19일 일요일
‘Smart pain’ on rise among phone users
With the introduction of smartphones, people are now filling spare moments working, Web searching, blogging or playing mobile games.
However, some smartphone users may face an unexpected side effect pain in their fingers and wrist.
Lee Kyung-joon, a 37-year-old businessman, started using his iPhone a few months ago. Recently, he started feeling numbness in his palm when playing mobile games for more than 30 minutes.
“At first I thought I was affected by the electric current. However, after consultations with a doctor, I found that the long periods of cellphone usage put pressure on my wrist,” he said.
Doctors say the number of people who complain about similar symptoms has been growing recently and some severe cases develop Carpal tunnel syndrome, which used to be more common among workers on assembly lines.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.
However, some smartphone users may face an unexpected side effect pain in their fingers and wrist.
Lee Kyung-joon, a 37-year-old businessman, started using his iPhone a few months ago. Recently, he started feeling numbness in his palm when playing mobile games for more than 30 minutes.
“At first I thought I was affected by the electric current. However, after consultations with a doctor, I found that the long periods of cellphone usage put pressure on my wrist,” he said.
Doctors say the number of people who complain about similar symptoms has been growing recently and some severe cases develop Carpal tunnel syndrome, which used to be more common among workers on assembly lines.
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers, as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move.
EU approves FTA with Korea
BRUSSELS -- The European Union (EU) approved a free trade agreement with South Korea on Thursday, clearing the way for the accord to be signed in the near future, diplomats said.
Foreign ministers from the 27-member bloc agreed to allow the trade pact to take provisional effect on July 1, 2011, as Italy dropped its veto in return for a six-month delay to the treaty's start, they said.
South Korea and the EU are expected to sign the pact at a summit in Brussels on Oct. 6. The treaty will come into full effect once EU member states, the European Parliament and South Korea have ratified it.
The two sides initialed the free trade deal in September of last year, three months after concluding negotiations.
Last month, South Korea's Cabinet approved the accord. The pact must be ratified by South Korea's parliament, EU member states and the European Parliament.
"The European Union is the world's No.1 economic bloc and South Korea's second-largest trading partner," Seoul's trade ministry said. "The pact will bring about economic benefit more than a free trade pact signed with the U.S."
Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere, whose country holds the union's rotating presidency, said the pact "will create prosperity and jobs across Korea and also in Europe."
Last year, two-way trade totaled US$78.8 billion, with South Korea enjoying a surplus of $14.38 billion. In 2008, bilateral trade reached $98.4 billion.
Foreign ministers from the 27-member bloc agreed to allow the trade pact to take provisional effect on July 1, 2011, as Italy dropped its veto in return for a six-month delay to the treaty's start, they said.
South Korea and the EU are expected to sign the pact at a summit in Brussels on Oct. 6. The treaty will come into full effect once EU member states, the European Parliament and South Korea have ratified it.
The two sides initialed the free trade deal in September of last year, three months after concluding negotiations.
Last month, South Korea's Cabinet approved the accord. The pact must be ratified by South Korea's parliament, EU member states and the European Parliament.
"The European Union is the world's No.1 economic bloc and South Korea's second-largest trading partner," Seoul's trade ministry said. "The pact will bring about economic benefit more than a free trade pact signed with the U.S."
Belgian Foreign Minister Steven Vanackere, whose country holds the union's rotating presidency, said the pact "will create prosperity and jobs across Korea and also in Europe."
Last year, two-way trade totaled US$78.8 billion, with South Korea enjoying a surplus of $14.38 billion. In 2008, bilateral trade reached $98.4 billion.
GM Daewoo joins electric vehicle race
GM Daewoo Auto and Technology Co. has jumped onto the electric car bandwagon with Korea’s first full-speed compact sedan powered by a battery.
The automaker said Sunday that it would carry out test drives of “Lacetti Premiere EV” in Seoul by the end of October to explore market demands, customer acceptance and battery range.
It was jointly developed by General Motors in a project participated by about 50 companies including LG Electronics and LG Chem.
The vehicle’s driving range per charge is 160 kilometers, exceeding those of existing electric vehicles. It can reach 165 kph, the fastest for a vehicle of its type in Korea, the company said.
It is based on the gasoline-fueled Lacetti Premiere, GM Daewoo’s compact sedan, which is sold as the Chevrolet Cruze outside of South Korea.
The vehicle is equipped with a 31 kilowatt battery from LG Chem that generates a maximum power of 150 kilowatts. It features a propulsion system from LG Electronics.
The automaker said Sunday that it would carry out test drives of “Lacetti Premiere EV” in Seoul by the end of October to explore market demands, customer acceptance and battery range.
It was jointly developed by General Motors in a project participated by about 50 companies including LG Electronics and LG Chem.
The vehicle’s driving range per charge is 160 kilometers, exceeding those of existing electric vehicles. It can reach 165 kph, the fastest for a vehicle of its type in Korea, the company said.
It is based on the gasoline-fueled Lacetti Premiere, GM Daewoo’s compact sedan, which is sold as the Chevrolet Cruze outside of South Korea.
The vehicle is equipped with a 31 kilowatt battery from LG Chem that generates a maximum power of 150 kilowatts. It features a propulsion system from LG Electronics.
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Men doing bigger share of Chuseok chores
With Chuseok a mere two days away, families are busy preparing for the festivities. But depending on your gender, that burden could fall solely on you.
Most think of holidays as a celebration in this case a festival to traditionally celebrate a good harvest over the past year. But for women, the seemingly never-ending preparations for Chuseok give them something else to look forward to: the end of the holiday season.
This is the case for most families. A typical picture of Chuseok is a scene in which the men are gathered around the television or talking over a game of cards, with the women chatting in the kitchen preparing jeon ― a Korean-style pancake with a wide variety of added ingredients.
In the past, newly-married women would dread going to their in-laws during Chuseok, for fear of the workload.
“When I first started preparing for the holidays it was really tiring. No matter how hard I worked, I didn’t see an end in sight. I worked to the point where my legs would swell up,” said No Eun-jeong, who has been married for over 20 years.
Some husbands were barred from helping their wives, for fear of repercussions from their parents.
“When we first got married, no matter how difficult the workload was, my husband never helped because he had to make sure his parents were happy. He felt that by not helping with the work, he was in fact helping me in the long run,” said Lee Sung-ok.
Most think of holidays as a celebration in this case a festival to traditionally celebrate a good harvest over the past year. But for women, the seemingly never-ending preparations for Chuseok give them something else to look forward to: the end of the holiday season.
This is the case for most families. A typical picture of Chuseok is a scene in which the men are gathered around the television or talking over a game of cards, with the women chatting in the kitchen preparing jeon ― a Korean-style pancake with a wide variety of added ingredients.
In the past, newly-married women would dread going to their in-laws during Chuseok, for fear of the workload.
“When I first started preparing for the holidays it was really tiring. No matter how hard I worked, I didn’t see an end in sight. I worked to the point where my legs would swell up,” said No Eun-jeong, who has been married for over 20 years.
Some husbands were barred from helping their wives, for fear of repercussions from their parents.
“When we first got married, no matter how difficult the workload was, my husband never helped because he had to make sure his parents were happy. He felt that by not helping with the work, he was in fact helping me in the long run,” said Lee Sung-ok.
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