Chinese automobiles are gradually permeating our daily lives. With the discontinuation of Chevrolet’s Damas, sales of the Dongfeng Sokon light truck have increased, while encountering Chinese electric buses on the streets has become a common occurrence. Moreover, more companies are opting for Chinese vehicles in the route bus and truck markets.
According to Kaizyu, a service that provides automotive statistics, from January to August this year, Dongfeng Sokon sold 955 units. This marks the highest sales volume among Chinese vehicles, indicating that many small business owners who previously used Damas have switched to Dongfeng Sokon vehicles.
The electric bus market is experiencing a robust influx of Chinese automobiles. By August of this year, Chinese electric bus sales included 165 units from Haiger, 42 from King Long, 38 from Skywell, and 32 from BYD, totaling 277 units. This closely trails Hyundai’s Elec City, which sold 286 units. Hyundai’s Elec City is now in a precarious position, having surrendered nearly half of the market to the united front of Chinese electric buses.
Notably, BYD stands out. As a leading electric vehicle manufacturer in China, BYD is steadily preparing to enter the domestic electric vehicle market. According to industry news, BYD Korea is moving its office to Yongsan Twin City in Seoul, gearing up for an official brand launch. The BYD Korea website features images of the electric passenger models that they plan to sell in the future. The electric buses previously sold through GS Global are expected to transition to a direct sales system with the establishment of BYD Korea.
To achieve this, BYD is also recruiting employees. Major job sites in the country have listings stating that the company is seeking bus sales representatives, key department staff, and public relations personnel to handle media inquiries.
In response, BYD Korea stated, “There is nothing specifically decided yet regarding the brand launch and the release of electric passenger vehicles,” keeping details about the brand launch and product release under wraps.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr