The acceleration of carbon neutrality has ushered in the era of electric vehicle (EV) popularization. Sales of imported electric vehicles are speeding up. The market for imported electric vehicles, which sold 19,021 units in 2020, surged to 42,459 units in 2022, marking an astonishing 123% increase in just two years.
As the number of imported electric vehicles rapidly increases, concerns regarding after-sales service are growing.
Electric vehicles require different maintenance methods compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles due to their high-voltage batteries. To inspect high-voltage batteries, technicians must hold an electric vehicle test certification. Consequently, imported brands are cultivating specialized electric vehicle technicians and expanding their electric vehicle service points.
The most proactive brands regarding electric vehicle after-sales service are Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo, as all their service centers nationwide can perform inspections and repairs for electric vehicles. Among them, Mercedes-Benz has special equipment for electric vehicle maintenance across 59 service centers nationwide. BMW boasts the largest number of specialized technicians for high-voltage battery-related work, with over 220 personnel, while Mercedes-Benz follows with around 200 technicians.
Volvo is also actively engaged in electric vehicle after-sales services. Repairs for electric vehicles can be performed at all 32 service centers nationwide. Electric vehicle specialized technicians, capable of servicing high-voltage systems, make up 81% of all Volvo technicians in the country, and specialized technicians qualified to repair and diagnose internal high-voltage battery issues account for 32% of the total technicians.
Volvo Korea emphasized that “the number of specialized technicians for electric vehicles is the highest in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Audi and Volkswagen are also working to expand their electric vehicle maintenance infrastructure. Of the 40 Audi service centers, 31 are capable of repairing electric vehicles, making up 77.5% of the total. Among these, 12 service centers can repair high-voltage batteries, equating to 30% of the total. Additionally, Audi has 83 specialized technicians for electric vehicles, with 17 of them already obtaining certification for high-voltage battery repair.
By Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr