Q1 Truck Market Down 20%… Only 15-Ton Dump Trucks Show Resilience

According to statistics from the Carisyou Data Research Institute, which processes commercial vehicle registration data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and provides it exclusively to this publication, a total of 5,050 medium-duty or larger trucks (including cargo and special-purpose vehicles with a payload capacity of 2 tons or more, tractor units, 15-ton and 25.5-ton-or-larger dump trucks, and mixer trucks) were newly registered in South Korea in the first quarter of this year. This represents a 20.7% decrease from 6,370 units recorded in the same period last year.Read more, Click here

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Isuzu 5-Ton Forward Targets Urban Special-Purpose Vehicle Market with Basement-Access Compactor Ga..

Curo Motors, the official distributor of ISUZU trucks in South Korea, has partnered with specialized vehicle manufacturer Youil Special Vehicle to develop a compactor garbage truck based on the 5-ton medium-duty Isuzu Forward model and has begun full-scale supply.Read more, Click here

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“Hi-Sen Targets the Medium-Duty Truck Market with Competitive Pricing and Higher Payload Capacit..

As South Korea’s commercial vehicle market has entered a structural downturn, Tata Daewoo Mobility has launched a market push with its new medium-duty cargo truck, Hi-Sen, which emphasizes price competitiveness. We spoke with Kim Tae-sung, President of Tata Daewoo Mobility, to hear about the Hi-Sen’s development process, the company’s market strategy, and the current situation of Tata Daewoo Mobility as a manufacturer of eco-friendly commercial vehicles.commercial vehicle solutions.Read more, Click here

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Charter Bus Industry in Turmoil Amid Reports of Granbird Discontinuation Next January

As South Korea’s intercity coach market—dominated by Hyundai Motor and Kia—continues to suffer from chronic delays in new vehicle deliveries, concerns are growing across the industry over the expected discontinuation of Kia’s flagship large bus, the Granbird, in January next year. Supporting these concerns, Kia is reportedly canceling production of some previously contracted Granbird units and terminating certain new orders, fueling uncertainty among bus operators.Read more, Click here

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AI and Digital Transformation Accelerate, But… Elderly Truck Drivers Say “It’s Hard to Keep..

“Technology is advancing too fast. Even when there’s no freight available, I have to keep staring at my smartphone to find the loads I want. Everything is becoming digital, and it’s frustrating just trying to keep up.” These are the words of a truck driver in his 70s who was interviewed at the Uiwang ICD Terminal in April.Read more, Click here

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Average Price of Korean-Made Heavy-Duty Dump Trucks Exceeds KRW 200 Million

Despite weakened demand amid a slowdown in the construction sector, prices of both Korean-made and imported trucks continued to rise last year. In particular, the average transaction price of Korean-made heavy-duty dump trucks in South Korea exceeded KRW 200 million for the first time.Read more, Click here

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War-Driven Fuel Price Surge Hits Truck Operators with Double and Triple Burdens

As global oil prices rise sharply once again, the financial burden on the freight transportation industry is increasing rapidly. In addition to the prolonged Russia–Ukraine war, growing military tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have further fueled concerns in the energy market. As a result, diesel prices in South Korea surpassed KRW 2,000 per liter as of late April. Although the government has introduced measures such as expanding fuel-price-linked subsidies, the burden remains substantial for the trucking industry, which relies heavily on diesel fuel. Read more, Click here

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“Truck Owners Prioritize Cost and Service Over Performance… 89% Cite Total Cost of Ownership a..

According to a survey of 388 truck owners, the factors they consider most important when selecting a vehicle are not performance or environmental friendliness, but rather cost-effectiveness, accessibility to service centers, and the ability to provide prompt maintenance support.Read more, Click here

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Spring Has Arrived, but the Special-Purpose Vehicle Plant Remains in Winter

On April 1, a visit was made to the Baekgu Special-Purpose Vehicle Complex in Gimje, North Jeolla Province. Although it was the start of spring, the weather was overcast and bleak. Only the sign standing along the national road remained unchanged, while the scene inside the complex had markedly shifted.Read more, Click here

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A Decade of Technology and Regulation Reshapes the Commercial Vehicle Industry

The year 2016 marked a turning point for the commercial vehicle industry. The introduction of Euro 6 regulations drove a new leap forward in diesel technology and reshaped the landscape of vehicle safety systems. What once merely issued warning alerts has evolved into active driver-assistance technologies. Over the past decade, these changes have quietly transformed the freight transport market.Read more, Click here

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