[AutoDaily] BMW and Nissan are preparing to advance Korean EV market. They are working preparatory operations with Jeju as the center.On 10 December, Nissan Korea said that the EV department executives have a discussion with the person from Jeju-do Office about launching EV Leaf and subsidy support. Nissan showed Leaf at the 2012 Seoul Motor Show, and they have pondered over Korean market advance for long time
Nissan Korean grasped market atmosphere in jeju as a Korean EV test-bed. They had a trial run Leaf in Jeju exhibition center where opened at the end of last month.
BMW Korea fall a step ahead. BMW Korea starts to construct a large scale charging infrastructure before the i3 is released in Korean market.
Next 17 of December in Jeju, they will hold the EV charger donation ceremony attended president of BMW Korea Kim Hyo-joon, the governor of Jeju-do Woo Keun-min, representative of Jeju EV service Kim Dae-hwan, and over 100 people. BMW Korea plans to donate 30 units of OBC (On Board Charger) to Jeju EV service center.
Unlike other EV stations have the public site as the center, but BMW Korea design to run the stations located in a residential area like an apartment complex. By early next year, BMW Korea will finish to setting up the charger stations, and they allow all EV users to share the charger.
Following this movement, Korean automakers also check the Jeju once more.
Renault Samsung is the most influential company in Jeju EV market. The Renault Samsung organized consortium with SK in 2009, attended Jeju Smart Grid Business, and run SM3 Z.E since 2011. As a result, the company took 107 units (66.9%) of 160 units in social supply business. It carried by Jeju government in July.
The company is planning to advance into Taxi and Rent-a-car business depending on EV taxi demo business being in Jeju. Furthermore, they will release considerable quantity of next year target volumes 3000 units such as additional supplement of social supply business.
The Kia steps for construction of infrastructure as well before the Soul EV released in next April. They allocate OBC to showroom and after-services center. The price of Ray EV model decreased 10 million won. Like this aggressive pricing policy, the Kia tries to spread out electric vehicle.
GM Korea will install 2 charger in Jeju for popularize of Spark EV model.
By Shin Seungyoung.
(Translate by Lee Yeseul)