KiaMotors workers arrested for selling auto secrets to China
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Published : Thu, 10 May 2007 11:07
By : Agencies
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SEOUL (XFN-ASIA) - Five current and former employees of Kia Motors have been arrested for allegedly selling automotive technology to China, causing potential losses of billions of dollars to a key industry, prosecutors said.
The prosecutors' office in Suwon city south of Seoul said the five are accused of stealing key technical secrets regarding car assembly.
Prosecutors described the case as the country's most serious industrial espionage incident, that could cause damage of 'a few billion dollars.'
Kia, the country's second largest car maker and an affiliate of Hyundai Motor, said the industrial espionage may help China catch up with South Korea in auto making.
'We are still assesing the damage, although we are treating very seriously a case that may help China narrow the technology gap quickly with South Korea,' Kia spokesman Lee In-Ho told Agence France Presse.
Technologies allegedly sold to China were related to Kia's popular sports utility vehicle, the Sorento, and a new model that will hit the market in December, he said.
On nine occasions since last November, the accused allegedly diverted a total of 57 secrets to an unidentified Chinese auto company through a technology consulting company in South Korea.
The consultant allegedly sold Kia's intellectual property to the Chinese company for 230 mln won. It also tried to sell the technologies to another Chinese automaker, prosecutors said.
( 1 usd = 925.10 won ) -
hellomotosqx, explain please.
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hahaha, good oneOriginally posted by hiphop2009:hellomotosqx, explain please.
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of course, we muz hold him accountable coz he always post pictures of china cars up here.Originally posted by cosmic_rides:hahaha, good one -
Those employees have taken the rongwei, i meant wrongway.
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oh man, china is going to be pwn so hard
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ahahah.... China cheeeeeeaters
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I bet QQ design was based on Kia cars
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it is. its based on the Daewoo Matiz.Originally posted by dbowie:I bet QQ design was based on Kia cars -
Originally posted by tomsss:ahahah.... China cheeeeeeaters
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so they going to start a new company called rongside?Originally posted by valcrist:Those employees have taken the rongwei, i meant wrongway. -
omg china always up to this kind of under hands , such a disgrace to the country tsk tsk tsk
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assembly secrets???
I tot what secrets sia...
Anyway, china bought it over legally through a tech consultant coy... it is them who are in the wrong for selling it to them since they know it is p&c... -
DOn care it is a white car or black car as long as it can ride comfortably and safely plus cheaply,it is call a good car....
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so its not a good car cause its not safe...hahaOriginally posted by CannyOng:DOn care it is a white car or black car as long as it can ride comfortably and safely plus cheaply,it is call a good car.... -
I wouldnt be suprised,after this,if a new Chery or Hafei or whatever MPV identical to the Carens is launched soon after this
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malaysia already using the rebadged CarensOriginally posted by ceecookie:I wouldnt be suprised,after this,if a new Chery or Hafei or whatever MPV identical to the Carens is launched soon after this