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Hyundai sales slump in China over North Korea, standoff with Chinese partner

BEIJING/SEOUL — Hyundai is at loggerheads with its Chinese partner over efforts to cut supplier costs, as they grapple with cutthroat competition and the impact of a standoff between Beijing and Seoul. Hyundai, along with affiliate Kia, has been caught up in a political row over a missile defense system that is being deployed in South Korea, but opposed by China, as tensions grow over North Korean missile tests and last week's test of a nuclear bomb the North claims can be mounted on a missile. Sales of Hyundai cars in China have been falling, part of a backlash against South Korean brands over the missile system that China views as a threat to its own national security. On Tuesday, South Korea asked the United States to lift a limit on the explosive payloads it can use in the missile system. This as a North Korean missile, believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile, was being tracked by intelligence services being moved on the ground toward North Korea's west coast and a possible launch site. That has come against the backdrop of ever tougher competition from local Chinese automakers. Until last year, Hyundai and Kia ranked third in China by sales. But Hyundai's sales alone have slumped 41 percent from January to July, fraying relations with local partner BAIC Motor Corp and making this the biggest crisis since Hyundai entered the Chinese market in 2002. Last month, Hyundai suspended production at its four China plants for a week after a French supplier refused to provide fuel tanks when its bills went unpaid. On Tuesday, Hyundai suspended production at one of its plants in China after a German firm went unpaid. Hyundai and BAIC — whose Beijing Hyundai joint venture is a 50:50 partnership — are divided over how to solve the issue of suppliers and tougher competition. Hyundai wants to protect its South Korean supply chain, while BAIC favors shifting to cheaper Chinese suppliers to cut costs, the people said. "BAIC wants to solve this aggressively and is ... asking Hyundai to change its sourcing strategy significantly and immediately," said the head of a Hyundai supplier based in Seoul, adding the idea was to source more locally from cheaper suppliers in China. Hyundai wants to solve this more gradually "over perhaps 5-10 years and do so in phases," the person said. BAIC declined to comment.

8 car technologies designed to keep you safe

Technologies are always advancing forward, especially in your vehicle. As more safety technologies are being introduced into the market, it can be hard to keep track of everything. So here are 8 technologies designed to keep you safe on the road. Want more coverage? Head over to http://bit.ly/2CcOngW Ford Kia Mercedes-Benz Subaru Toyota Volkswagen Volvo Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video FCA automatic emergency braking

Unsurprisingly, the 2017 Kia Cadenza's price undercuts its competition

When we drove the 2017 Kia Cadenza, it struck us as being "fine." It doesn't stand out from the mundane crowd of near-luxury sedans, but also manages to hold its own in an unexciting-by-design segment. If the car's styling and the driving experience weren't enough to get you interested in the Cadenza, maybe the price will. The Cadenza will be offered in three trims: Premium, Technology, and Limited. The Premium trim will start at $32,890, representing a $950 decrease from the least-expensive 2016 Cadenza model. There are two packages available on the Premium: the $3,000 Luxury package and $1,000 Panoramic Sunroof package. The Luxury Package adds a variety of features, including a Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system, and power-folding outside mirrors, as well as a rear parking assist system. As its name implies, the panoramic sunroof package adds a massive sunroof with a power-operating shade, as well as LED interior lighting. The contents of both come standard on the upper trim levels. The next step up is the Technology trim, which adds things like autonomous emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and high-beam assist, and has a starting price of $39,890. The range-topping Limited trim adds Nappa leather seats, a head-up display, a feature to open the trunk when you're standing nearby, and other goodies for $45,290. And for people doing some cross-shopping, the base price of the Premium trim undercuts those of the Cadenza's competitors – the Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon, and Buick LaCrosse. So there's something to be excited about. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Kia Cadenza: New York 2016 View 11 Photos News Source: KiaImage Credit: Live photos copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / AOL Kia Luxury Sedan pricing kia cadenza