“South Korea is a developed auto market that abounds with international marques and established home-grown brands like Hyundai,” said Steve Shi, a manager with Juchen Auto Trade, an auto service firm. “It is an ideal testing ground for Chinese-made EVs if they want to prove their design and manufacturing strength.”
Shenzhen-based BYD, the world’s largest EV assembler, plans to double the number of its showrooms in Korea to 30 by the end of 2025.
Last month, BYD launched its Seal, a mid-size electric sedan, in South Korea with a starting price of 47.5 million won (US$33,900). The car, featuring ultra-fast charging technology, has a driving range of 650km.
It takes on the likes of Kia’s EV4 sedan, which has a driving range of 410km and starts at 41.9 million won. Hyundai’s popular Elantra, which is powered by an internal combustion engine, is priced at around 40 million won.
