In the past month, Kia set a record for the highest monthly sales of electric cars in South Korea, surpassing the sales of the Casper Electric. Despite challenges in the electric car market, Kia and Hyundai’s new electric cars received positive responses and led the market in August.
The Kia EV3, which was first unveiled on May 23 and started delivery at the end of July, played a significant role in achieving this milestone. In August alone, 4,436 units of the EV3 were delivered, accounting for 69.3% of Kia’s total electric passenger car registrations.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz electric cars, the main protagonist of the Incheon Cheongna fire incident, only saw 133 new registrations in August, marking an 82.2% decrease compared to the previous year.
The industry believes that overcoming the stagnation in the electric car market is crucial for the success of the sector, with cost-effectiveness being the key factor.
Despite the positive feedback on domestic electric cars like Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, EV6, and EV9 in terms of product quality, high prices and charging inconveniences have hindered sales. Kia strategically placed the EV3 at the center of its efforts to popularize electric cars.
The EV3 is a compact crossover electric SUV that has been well-received by consumers for its relatively low price of around 30 million won, despite featuring Kia’s advanced technology. With a maximum driving range of 350km on a single charge, it is suitable for daily commuting without any issues.
Prices for the EV3 start at around 40 million won for the standard model and around 44 million won for the long-range version. Depending on the region, subsidies can lower the price to around 33 million won for the standard model and around 36 million won for the long-range version, based on Seoul’s standards.