Latest news with #KoreaAutomobileandMobilityAssociation
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Fewer young South Koreans are seeking driving licences
Many young South Koreans see a driving licence as expensive and unnecessary, especially with the growing availability of discounted public transportation programmes. PHOTO: AFP SEOUL - 'I was planning to get my driver's licence after graduating from high school, but even if I got it right away, I couldn't afford to buy a car,' said university student Lee Jun-mo, 23. 'Using public transportation or options like shared bikes feels much more realistic for someone like me.' Mr Lee's view is increasingly common among young South Koreans. Far fewer people in their teens and 20s are obtaining driver's licences than just a few years ago, according to data released on May 28 by the Korean National Police Agency. The number of teenagers who earned a licence in 2023 was down 20 per cent from 2020. Among people in their 20s, the drop was even sharper, with a 30 per cent decline over the same period. And this is not a pandemic effect. New licence issuances are down 13.5 per cent from 2019, too. As demand has decreased, so has supply. The number of driving schools across the country fell to 342 in the first quarter of 2025, down from 367 in early 2020. The decline reflects a shift in perception, according to the police agency. Many young people now see a licence as both expensive and unnecessary, especially with the growing availability of discounted public transportation programmes like the Climate Transit Card and the K-Pass. In Seoul, the average cost of attending driving school for a Class 2 automatic licence reached 900,000 won (S$844), in the first quarter of 2025. That figure marks a 29 per cent increase from five years ago, when the average cost was 700,000 won. Financial pressures on young adults are also evident in car ownership trends. According to a recent report by the Korea Automobile and Mobility Association, new car purchases among people in their 20s fell by 12 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023. It was the steepest decline among all age groups. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Sales of hydrogen vehicle slump in January-April in South Korea
South Korea's hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) sector is facing a sharp downturn this year, with both domestic sales and exports falling significantly amid a lack of demand, industry data showed on Wednesday. According to the Korea Automobile and Mobility Association (KAMA), only 18 hydrogen vehicles, including both passenger and commercial models, were exported from January to April, down 70 percent from 60 units a year ago. Domestic sales came to 965 units over the cited period, raising concerns that the annual tally may dip to the lowest in years, reports Yonhap news agency. Hyundai Motor Co., which had led the global hydrogen vehicle market with models like the Nexo and the Xcient commercial truck, is losing momentum due to limited model availability and a lack of hydrogen infrastructure. Exports peaked at 1,121 units in 2021 following the launch of the Nexo in 2018 but have since declined. Domestic sales also fell from a high of 10,328 units in 2022 to 4,707 in 2023 and 3,787 last year. Despite weakened sales, experts say hydrogen vehicles remain a key future mobility technology and call for stronger government support. "The global hydrogen car market is still small but holds great potential," said Kim Pil-soo, professor of automotive engineering at Daelim University. "It should be viewed as a next-generation investment and supported through a broader hydrogen value chain strategy." Meanwhile, major car manufacturers operating in South Korea, including Hyundai Motor, Kia and Volkswagen, are offering or plan to offer a free safety inspection for all electric vehicle (EV) models as part of enhanced safety measures following concerns about EV fires, the transportation ministry said. The industry-wide service, involving all 14 carmakers operating in the country, came in response to a major fire that broke out from a Mercedes-Benz EV last year, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen-Audi and Jaguar Land Rover are providing free inspections throughout the year. Stellantis began inspections in April, while KG Mobility Corp. and Renault Korea Motors will start this month and continue through the year-end. Porsche and Polestar are scheduled to begin the service in June. GM Korea, Tesla and BMW will join in July, followed by Mercedes-Benz and Volvo in August. The ministry said the inspection covers key safety components, including the condition of the high-voltage battery and its cooling system. Technicians will also check for external damage, such as impact to the battery's underside, and make repairs if abnormalities are found. Vehicles with older versions of the battery management system will receive a software update to improve battery monitoring. The service will also include a recall check to ensure all necessary safety actions are taken.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
Fewer young Koreans are seeking driver's licenses
'I was planning to get my driver's license after graduating from high school, but even if I got it right away, I can't afford to buy a car,' said university student Lee Jun-mo, 23. 'Using public transportation or options like shared bikes feels much more realistic for someone like me.' Lee's view is increasingly common among young South Koreans. Far fewer people in their teens and 20s are obtaining driver's licenses than just a few years ago, according to data released Wednesday by the Korean National Police Agency. The number of teenagers who earned a license in 2023 was down 20 percent from 2020. Among people in their 20s, the drop was even sharper, with a 30 percent decline over the same period. And this isn't a pandemic effect. New license issuances are down 13.5 percent from 2019, too. As demand has decreased, so has supply. The number of driving schools across the country fell to 342 in the first quarter of this year, down from 367 in early 2020. The decline reflects a shift in perception, according to the police agency. Many young people now see a license as both expensive and unnecessary, especially with the growing availability of discounted public transportation programs like the Climate Transit Card and the K-Pass. In Seoul, the average cost of attending driving school for a Class 2 automatic license reached 900,000 won ($650), in the first quarter of this year. That figure marks a 29 percent increase from five years ago, when the average cost was 700,000 won. Financial pressures on young adults are also evident in car ownership trends. According to a recent report by the Korea Automobile and Mobility Association, new car purchases among people in their 20s fell by 12 percent last year compared with the previous year. It was the steepest decline among all age groups.
