“We will introduce quality infrastructure that customers can trust when purchasing used electric vehicles.”
This was the statement made by Kia on the 25th as it announced the launch of its certified used car business, following the announcement from Hyundai’s Genesis brand on the 19th.
Kia’s Domestic Sales Headquarters Vice President Kwon Hyuk-ho mentioned, “We will transform into a manufacturer that provides mobility-centered solutions, catering to customers’ lifestyles with not only new cars but also used cars.” He further added, “By implementing a certification inspection system comparable to that of new vehicles, we will present high-quality used cars to customers, ensuring trust not just through our manufacturing services but also our membership services.”
Kia will only list vehicles with a maximum of 100,000 km and under five years old that pass a stringent 200-point inspection process on its certified used car online marketplace.
Kia aims to sell 3,000 certified used cars in the remaining two months of this year, with a target of 15,000 sales next year. The certified used car program will also include electric vehicles.
Kia’s Certified Used Car Business Team leader Lee Jong-hyuk stated, “In 2022, domestic electric vehicle sales reached 160,000 units, which is 10% of the new car market, but only 0.7% in the used car market. This indicates that the quality infrastructure for used electric vehicles is not properly established.” He emphasized, “Kia will establish a quality grading system for certified used electric vehicles, providing customers with the assurance they need when purchasing pre-owned electric cars.”
To achieve this, Kia will conduct thorough diagnostics on high-voltage battery control systems, high-voltage charging systems, and power distribution systems using specialized diagnostic tools. This will assess the current performance status of the battery.
Additionally, regarding the government’s designated two-year mandatory holding period for electric vehicles, the team leader revealed, “According to government policy, we will not purchase vehicles within the mandatory holding period. However, we plan to retail 1,000 vehicles including internal staff cars, test drive vehicles, and rental car returns.”
By Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr