Latest news with #Trailblazer
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
GM Korea posts 20% sales growth in May
SEOUL, June 4 (UPI) -- General Motors Korea's sales in May jumped more than 20% despite concerns that the automaker may leave South Korea amid U.S. tariff pressures. The automaker said Tuesday that it sold 50,029 units last month, up 20.13% compared to April. The Chevrolet Trax Crossover and its derivatives posted record monthly sales of 32,232 units, up 30.12%. The Chevrolet Trailblazer also cruised well, logging global sales of 16,389 units, up 16.26% month-on-month. The solid performance was comparable to the struggle of its local rivals. The country's major carmakers like Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Renault Samsung saw their sales decline in May. "The Chevrolet Trax Crossover and Trailblazer, fully led by GM Korea from development, continue to receive positive feedback in global markets thanks to their outstanding quality and product value," GM Korea Vice President Gustavo Colossi said. However, concerns persist as the 25% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on imported vehicles is feared to weigh on GM Korea, which exports more than 80% of its vehicles to the U.S. market. Against this backdrop, GM Korea's recent decision to sell off all of its service centers and underutilized facilities fueled speculation about its potential withdrawal. Although GM Korea reiterates its commitment to operations here and denies any immediate plans to exit from the country, uncertainty looms about the company's future, according to experts. "I don't think that GM Korea would pull out any time soon as it invested billions of dollars here in recent years. But if the high tariff continues, the company may be forced to reconsider its strategy," Daelim University automotive professor Kim Pil-soo told UPI. "The newly elected president should hurry to strike a deal with the U.S. government so that the tariff will fall below 10%. Then, GM Korea's operation will become sustainable," he said. Lee Jae-myung from the main opposition Democratic Party won a presidential election Tuesday to become the country's 21st state head. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- UPI
GM Korea posts 20% sales growth in May
SEOUL, June 4 (UPI) -- General Motors Korea's sales in May jumped more than 20% despite concerns that the automaker may leave South Korea amid U.S. tariff pressures. The automaker said Tuesday that it sold 50,029 units last month, up 20.13% compared to April. The Chevrolet Trax Crossover and its derivatives posted record monthly sales of 32,232 units, up 30.12%. The Chevrolet Trailblazer also cruised well, logging global sales of 16,389 units, up 16.26% month-on-month. The solid performance was comparable to the struggle of its local rivals. The country's major carmakers like Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Renault Samsung saw their sales decline in May. "The Chevrolet Trax Crossover and Trailblazer, fully led by GM Korea from development, continue to receive positive feedback in global markets thanks to their outstanding quality and product value," GM Korea Vice President Gustavo Colossi said. However, concerns persist as the 25% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on imported vehicles is feared to weigh on GM Korea, which exports more than 80% of its vehicles to the U.S. market. Against this backdrop, GM Korea's recent decision to sell off all of its service centers and underutilized facilities fueled speculation about its potential withdrawal. Although GM Korea reiterates its commitment to operations here and denies any immediate plans to exit from the country, uncertainty looms about the company's future, according to experts. "I don't think that GM Korea would pull out any time soon as it invested billions of dollars here in recent years. But if the high tariff continues, the company may be forced to reconsider its strategy," Daelim University automotive professor Kim Pil-soo told UPI. "The newly elected president should hurry to strike a deal with the U.S. government so that the tariff will fall below 10%. Then, GM Korea's operation will become sustainable," he said. Lee Jae-myung from the main opposition Democratic Party won a presidential election Tuesday to become the country's 21st state head.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Where can one read about the Trans-Siberian railway?
Q A friend of ours wants to go on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Can you recommend a book for him? Graham H A The great railway that stretches from European Russia through the vast emptiness of Siberia to the Pacific Ocean provides one of the world's great travel adventures. But along with the rest of the Russian Federation, it is firmly on the Foreign Office no-go list: 'The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to Russia due to the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine, including security incidents, such as drone attacks, and Russian air defence activity.' The official travel advice warns of only 'limited ability for the UK government to provide support' and says: 'There is also a high likelihood terrorists will try to carry out attacks, including in major cities.' Travelling against Foreign Office advice renders standard travel insurance policies invalid. Having said that, there is no legal obstacle to travelling to Russia; plenty of flights are still going in and out (for example via Belgrade and Istanbul) and tourist visas are still being issued. But I urge your friend simply to seek information and inspiration for a future journey. The twin constraints of Covid travel restrictions and the Russian invasion of Ukraine mean that up-to-date guidebooks simply don't exist. Bryn Thomas's comprehensive Trans-Siberian Handbook is still on its 10th edition, published by Trailblazer in 2019 – with some updates online at the Trailblazer Guides site. The latest Lonely Planet guide, Trans-Siberian Railway, was published in 2018; while it is packed with information, much will inevitably be outdated by the time your friend travels. For the time being, my recommendation is The Trans-Siberian Railway: A traveller's anthology, published by Signal Books in 2009. This elegantly edited collection includes stern warnings from Intourist brochures forbidding photography along the way, along with extracts of superb writing by Eric Newby and Paul Theroux. The latter ends his journey from Moscow in the far eastern city of Yaroslavl thus: 'I felt, after 6,000 miles and all those days in the train, only a great remoteness.' Q I have a big birthday coming up this month, and some friends from Germany are heading over on the ferry. But they want to explore the Peak District along the way for a few days. Where do you advise they go? They are keen cyclists. Jennifer McK A The Peak District – Britain's first national park – contains much to appeal to visitors, from pretty villages to wild moorland in northern Derbyshire and surrounding counties. But I have three particular recommendations: one on foot, one by bike and one that is more of a scenic indulgence. The first is the southernmost stretch of the Pennine Way, which winds along the spine of northern England to the Scottish border. You can reach the starting point, Edale, easily by rails and the long-distance pass is well signposted. Initially drystone walls carve up the countryside, but as you climb the landscape hardens to barren rock, with boulders casually strewn across the moor. You reach the top of Kinder Scout, at 636m, the highest point in the park. You can return the same way or make more of a circular trip – ask for details locally. Further south, the trackbed of the former Cromford and High Peak railway has been turned into the High Peak trail: a 28-km cycle route that, as a former rail line, makes for relatively easy riding amid spectacular scenery. There are several options for renting bikes; you could do so at Buxton, an interesting spa town that is outside the national park borders, if you are happy with a steep climb up to the trail. Finally, Dovedale is the valley that marks the southern end of highland Britain. The River Dove carves a lovely course through limestone cliffs. While it is not exactly the Grand Canyon, Dovedale makes an excellent conclusion to an exploration of the Peak District. The market town of Ashbourne is the place to start and end your excursion. Q I am taking my son to Japan to celebrate his 21st birthday. We are keen to climb Mount Fuji. We want to make it a two-day trip, staying overnight at 'Station 8'. Tokyo Gaijins seems reasonably priced at 25,000 yen (£125) per person for a self-guided climb, and about 50,000 yen (£250) for a guided tour with a group of 24. Which do you recommend: self-guiding or taking an organised tour? David S A Climbing Japan's highest peak is an enthralling element of exploring the nation. It has been a while since I scaled Mount Fuji, and plenty has changed. With more tourists, especially foreigners, seeking to ascend the sacred mountain, and a short season (1 July – 10 September), there are many more controls. With limits imposed on the number of trekkers on the key routes, going through an operator like Tokyo Gaijins is a good choice. Whether you choose the self-guiding option or the organised tour, you get a direct bus early in the morning from Tokyo to 'base camp' and a relatively relaxing first day, ending with dinner and a dorm bed at one of the 8th station mountain huts. As this is over 3,000 metres above sea level (nearly two miles high), it is a good location to acclimatise. Very early the following morning – around 2am – you start crunching your way to the 3,776m summit along the trail of volcanic rock. You should arrive in time for sunrise, though if a cloud descends, you will see nothing. I recommend walking around the crater before you descend. To help you relax after all that effort, the bus makes a stop at an onsen – Japanese spa – for a couple of hours. All of this is included in the much cheaper self-guided tour, and I cannot see much benefit in paying twice as much to have a guide; you are not likely to get lost, since there is a constant procession of climbers. Indeed, the idea of being in a group of 24 people, all of different abilities, does not appeal to me. So go for the cheaper option – but bear in mind that from this year, you must also pay a 4,000 yen (£20) entrance fee when you arrive, in addition to the trip cost.
Korea Herald
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
GM Korea to sell non-core assets, service centers amid sluggish sales
GM Korea, the South Korean unit of General Motors, said Wednesday it will dispose of non-core assets and directly managed service centers as part of its efforts to sustain operations amid weak demand for its vehicles. In response to a rapidly evolving industry landscape and global business challenges, the company said in a press release that it will begin consultations with relevant stakeholders to secure financial sustainability in the Korean market. GM Korea plans to gradually sell all nine of its directly operated after-sales service (AS) centers. However, all employees at these centers will be reassigned to other divisions within the company, it said. "Unlocking value from surplus assets and eliminating loss-making service operations are critical to supporting ongoing sustainability," Hector Villarreal, president and managing director of GM Korea, said. The company also plans to sell idle properties and facilities within its main Bupyeong plant, located just west of Seoul. It emphasized that the planned asset sales will not affect production at the facility. "Our current vehicle programs still have many years to run, and these actions are important to ensuring GM Korea is running as efficiently as possible," he said. Despite the planned sale of the directly managed service centers, GM vehicle owners will continue to receive after-sales services through the company's 386 contracted AS centers nationwide, the company said. The move comes amid growing concerns over a potential withdrawal by GM from the South Korean market, driven by shifting US tariff policies. However, the company dismissed the possibility of such a move. "These actions are aimed at ensuring our business operates as efficiently as possible and remains an attractive destination for investment," a company official said. Speculation over GM's possible exit from South Korea has mounted following the imposition of a 25 percent tariff on imported vehicles by the United States since April, compounded by the automaker's lack of new models and sluggish sales. Detroit-based GM currently operates two plants in South Korea: one in Bupyeong and another in Changwon, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The Bupyeong plant manufactures the Trailblazer sport utility vehicle (SUV), while the Changwon factory produces the Trax Crossover for both domestic sale and export. In the January–April period, GM Korea's total vehicle sales declined 9.1 percent to 154,161 units, down from 169,638 a year earlier. About 85 percent of its vehicles are shipped to the US. (Yonhap)
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jury selection starts in East Chicago gas station slaying
Authorities allege Maurice Berry walked inside an East Chicago BP gas station in March 2024 to shoot his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend. Instead, he killed 49-year-old Javier 'Campa' Olvera, there to buy a few sodas. The other man he was targeting was shot in the arm. Berry, 22, of Hammond, is on trial this week. He is charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, operating a loaded machine gun, possession of a machine gun and misdemeanor theft. He has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection started Tuesday, with opening arguments expected in the afternoon. Last week, Berry rejected an offered plea deal for murder and a gun enhancement – for up to 85 years. East Chicago Police responded around 8 p.m. March 30, 2024, to a BP gas station, 4502 Indianapolis Blvd. Olvera was lying on the ground, shot multiple times. Surveillance video showed Berry pull up in a black Chevy Trailblazer, then go inside holding a concealed object in his hand. Olvera was already in line. The other man — who was later wounded — walked inside and 'looked at Berry.' On camera, the man and Berry appeared to exchange words. Berry shot at the man. Olvera dropped to the floor 'immediately.' Berry fled in the Trailblazer. The shots were fired within two seconds, leading police to believe the handgun was modified to fire automatically with a switch. The other man at first claimed Berry 'thought he was someone else,' before admitting their connection. He was there to buy a cigar, he said. The man said he had a gun but didn't fire it at Berry. The bullet broke the other man's upper arm with bullet fragments hitting his chest. Olvera worked for 18 years as a forklift driver at Hammond's Pacmoore Products, according to his obituary. He loved his family and his favorite sports teams — the Los Angeles Dodgers, Liverpool FC and Club America. He also loved riding bikes and Mexican music. The trial is before Judge Natalie Bokota with Deputy Prosecutors Tim Brown and Lindsay Latham assigned and defense lawyer Susan Severtson representing Berry. mcolias@
