Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe 
American Airlines CEO to Meet Pilots Union Amid Storm Response and Financial Concerns 
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down After Layoffs 
Instagram Outage Disrupts Thousands of U.S. Users 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings 
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering 
CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
Hyundai Motor and Kia are set to capitalize on Toyota Motor's recent quality certification manipulation scandal. Industry officials and experts believe this presents a promising chance for the two Korean automakers to challenge Toyota's longstanding dominance in Southeast Asia.
Seizing the Opportunity in Southeast Asia
Lee Ho-geun, an automotive engineering professor at Daedeok University, believes that Hyundai Motor and Kia can leverage this scandal to steal market share from Toyota in Southeast Asia. While Toyota maintains strong relationships with local subcontractors and sales channels, Hyundai and Kia have displayed outstanding sales growth in markets like Vietnam and the Philippines.
Korea Times reported that Hyundai and Kia have the potential to boost their sales growth by strategically utilizing the Toyota scandal in their marketing and sales activities in Southeast Asia. With Toyota ranking as the top-selling brand in most Asian regions, this presents a significant opportunity for Hyundai and Kia to make their mark.
Toyota's Certification Test Manipulation Exposed
Last month, Toyota admitted to falsifying data in the certification test for diesel engines in 10 of its models. Nikkei reported that an independent panel investigation revealed that Toyota Industries, responsible for developing diesel engines for the automaker, had cheated on certification tests for three diesel engine models.
Luxury automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW gained substantial advantages from Volkswagen's "Dieselgate" scandal in the past. These automakers believe that the Toyota scandal could similarly benefit them, although they did not disclose their identities.
This scandal resembles Volkswagen's infamous "Dieselgate" scandal in 2017. Volkswagen faced heavy criticism for manipulating emissions outputs in its diesel-powered vehicles. Toyota's involvement in testing fraud is expected to negatively impact brand value.
A spokesman from Toyota Motor Korea stated that the local subsidiary has little connection to the scandal. Toyota Motor Korea declined to provide further comments because they do not sell any vehicles implicated in the testing fraud.
Photo: Hyundai Media Center
