By Jhoo Dong-chan
Tesla Motors is seeking to enter the Korean market, as the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker has started its search for employees and office space in Seoul.
It recently posted job ads to its website for four positions in Seoul ― software engineer, sales advisor, operation specialist and store manager.
Given this, Tesla is expected to launch sales operations for the automaker's EVs soon in Korea.
The automaker registered its subsidiary corporate body, Tesla Korea Limited, last November.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in April that the company will start selling its Model 3 sedan here by the end of this year.
A Tesla official said the U.S. EV maker received a total of 253,000 preorders for the Model 3 in the first week after it began receiving preorders on March 31. The monetary value of the preorders was 13 trillion won ($11.3 billion).
A Hyundai official said in a previous interview with The Korea Times that the EV sedan introduced by Tesla would not encroach on its own domestic market share.
"Tesla's Model 3 won't influence Hyundai Motor in sales at home any time soon, as the price of the model is still too high and the nation's infrastructure for EVs has not been fully established yet," said a Hyundai official.
The price of the Model 3 starts at $35,000, before government subsidies and incentives. In Korea, the price is expected to reach about $40,000.
"It will cost around 43 million won in Korea for a Tesla, considering dealers' margins and additional fees," the Hyundai official said. "The consumer price even with government incentives for green cars is expected to be well over 30 million won."
Tesla Motors is seeking to enter the Korean market, as the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker has started its search for employees and office space in Seoul.
It recently posted job ads to its website for four positions in Seoul ― software engineer, sales advisor, operation specialist and store manager.
Given this, Tesla is expected to launch sales operations for the automaker's EVs soon in Korea.
The automaker registered its subsidiary corporate body, Tesla Korea Limited, last November.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in April that the company will start selling its Model 3 sedan here by the end of this year.
A Tesla official said the U.S. EV maker received a total of 253,000 preorders for the Model 3 in the first week after it began receiving preorders on March 31. The monetary value of the preorders was 13 trillion won ($11.3 billion).
A Hyundai official said in a previous interview with The Korea Times that the EV sedan introduced by Tesla would not encroach on its own domestic market share.
"Tesla's Model 3 won't influence Hyundai Motor in sales at home any time soon, as the price of the model is still too high and the nation's infrastructure for EVs has not been fully established yet," said a Hyundai official.
The price of the Model 3 starts at $35,000, before government subsidies and incentives. In Korea, the price is expected to reach about $40,000.
"It will cost around 43 million won in Korea for a Tesla, considering dealers' margins and additional fees," the Hyundai official said. "The consumer price even with government incentives for green cars is expected to be well over 30 million won."
