By Kim Tae-gyu
The country’s largest carmaker and top chemical company will strengthen their tie-up in electric vehicles so as to gain first mover advantage in the emerging market, which is widely expected to explode in the near future.
Hyundai Motor Group said Monday that it has agreed to provide 300 Sonata hybrid vehicles at discounted prices to LG Chem so that LG Group officials will be able to use the eco-friendly cars.
The details of the contract, including the size of discounts, have yet to be decided.
``We are glad that we can offer the Sonata hybrid, which we developed on our own, to LG Chem, which supplied rechargeable batteries for the model,’’ Hyundai President Kim Choong-ho said.
``This will help the two corporations further improve cooperation as well as drum up support for eco-friendly vehicles.
LG Chem President Kwon Young-soo, who plans to be the first among LG officials to buy a Sonata hybrid, said that the two outfits will become closer partners in the future.