Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
BMW Korea offers 'premium charging experience' for EV customers
Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas Hotel BMW charging station / Courtesy of BMW Korea
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
BMW Korea continues to invest heavily in establishing domestic charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). Starting with the "BMW Charging Station" on Incheon's Yeongjong Island at the end of last year, BMW Korea has been actively expanding its charging stations to various regions.
Since introducing the pure electric model i3 as the first imported car brand in Korea in 2014, BMW Korea has been a pioneer in expanding EV charging facilities in line with the substantial increase in EV adoption.
Last December, BMW Korea established the largest EV charging station in Korea, capable of charging up to 80 EVs simultaneously, at the Incheon Yeongjong BMW Driving Center. Additionally, a BMW Charging Station capable of charging up to 16 vehicles was set up at Paradise City Hotel on the island.
In June, BMW Korea opened a charging station at the Hilton Hotel Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province, and this month, a BMW Charging Station was introduced at the Parnas Hotel in Seoul. These facilities can simultaneously charge up to eight and six vehicles, respectively. Furthermore, BMW Korea plans to introduce additional BMW Charging Stations at the Hyundai Hotel in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, in November, and the Park Hyatt Busan hotel in December.
As a result of its focus on expanding EV charging infrastructure, BMW Korea is the only member of the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) to receive subsidies for charging infrastructure this year. These subsidies are given to manufacturers that have installed more than 100 rapid chargers within the past three years.
As of last month, BMW Korea possesses 891 EV charging units. The company plans to further expand its charging infrastructure by adding over 20 additional BMW Charging Stations across the nation, totaling more than 1,100 by the end of the year.
Notably, all current and future BMW Charging Stations, including those already operational, will be accessible to all EV drivers in Korea, not just those driving BMW and Mini vehicles.
The BMW Group is a global premium car and motorcycle manufacturer with four brands: BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad. It also offers innovative premium financial and mobility services. Currently, it operates 31 production networks in 15 countries and has established a global sales network spanning over 140 countries. In 2021, BMW Group sold over 2.5 million cars and 194,000 motorcycles worldwide.