Renault Korea’s Scenic EV set to deepen rivalry against IONIQ, ID.4

Renault Korea's Scenic E-Tech compact electric SUV / Courtesy of Renault Korea

Renault Korea is ready to intensify its electric vehicle (EV) rivalry against Hyundai Motor and Volkswagen Korea by launching its long-awaited Scenic E-Tech compact SUV here in August.

The electric crossover will make its debut as compact EVs gain growing popularity from local customers.

Renault Korea expects the upcoming launch of the Scenic EV to help rev up its domestic sales growth. For now, the French carmaker relies heavily on sales of its flagship Grand Koleos SUV. The vehicle accounts for more than 80 percent of its total auto sales here.

The Scenic E-Tech is widely considered a well-rounded EV in terms of its driving range and strong safety features. The vehicle can travel up to 443 kilometers on a single charge. The vehicle is also equipped with the carmaker’s much-hyped Fireman Access technology which enables firefighters to drench burning battery cells quickly in case of fire.

Rival models for the vehicle include Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ flagship EV and Volkswagen Korea’s ID.4 electric SUV.

Hyundai Motor's IONIQ 5 EV / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Though Renault Korea has yet to set the price for the upcoming EV, the vehicle may pose a potential threat to its rivals if it is considered affordable.

“The price will be a game-changing element to determine the success of the Scenic EV here,” an industry official said.

Renault Korea imports all Scenic models from France, so the vehicle isn't expected to launch at a particularly low price. After subsidies, it's likely to be priced under 50 million won ($36,400).

“The Grand Koleos drove sensation with strong domestic sales largely due to its price competitiveness, but this will not be the case for the Scenic, so the carmaker will focus on promoting its key upsides, such as safety prowess and decent interior space,” the official said.

Volkswagen Korea's ID.4 electric SUV / Courtesy of Volkswagen Korea

Renault Korea hopes the Scenic will help revive its sales momentum. According to data from the carmaker, the Renault Korea’s domestic auto sales numbers have been on a downward trajectory for the past few months. The monthly sales for March reached 6,116 here, but the figure fell to 5,252 the following month. It declined yet again in May to 4,202.

While the EV industry still faces an uphill road to mass adoption, electric car sales are on a recovery track here. According to data from market tracker CarIsYou, EV sales here revved up by 31 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier.

“Despite the market recovery, the Scenic is also faced with toughening rivalry from other price-competitive electric cars, such as Kia’s EV3 and EV4, and BYD’s Atto 3, all of which report decent sales,” another industry official said. “The key should be on how to deliver Scenic’s differentiated product image to customers.”