Saturday, April 1, 2023
Khmer Daily Cambodia News
34 °c
Phnom Penh
  • LATEST
  • CAMBODIA
  • ASIA
    • JAPAN
    • SOUTH KOREA
    • TAIWAN
  • WORLD
    • CHINA
    • RUSSIA
  • BUSINESS CAMBODIA
  • TECHNOLOGY
No Result
View All Result
  • LATEST
  • CAMBODIA
  • ASIA
    • JAPAN
    • SOUTH KOREA
    • TAIWAN
  • WORLD
    • CHINA
    • RUSSIA
  • BUSINESS CAMBODIA
  • TECHNOLOGY
No Result
View All Result
The Khmer Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home ASIA South Korea

Cars, a cocktail and a celebrity: South Koreans succumb to Tesla fever

July 9, 2020
in ASIA, South Korea
0
Cars, a cocktail and a celebrity: South Koreans succumb to Tesla fever
0
SHARES
18
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

SEOUL – From an eponymous cocktail to eager buyers following the shipping routes of long-awaited cars, Tesla Inc is having a moment in South Korea, particularly among tech-savvy professionals.

Kang Sung-mo, who runs an advertising production agency in Seoul, is a convert.

“I am not interested in cars, but I am interested in the Tesla brand and its technology,” the 39-year-old told Reuters.

Kang bought a Tesla Model 3 in December, ditching the Hyundai crossover he bought only last summer. Being associated with Tesla’s reputation for innovation was good for his image, he said.

The US electric car maker had its best month for South Korea in June, selling 2,827 vehicles and bouncing back from weak sales in April and May which were hit by US production disruptions due to the coronavirus.

The Model 3 is now the country’s No.2 imported vehicle, ahead of the BMW 5 series and the Audi A6, and just behind the Mercedes E-Class.

By contrast, Hyundai Motor Co, the dominant automaker in South Korea, saw sales of its Kona EV slump 31 per cent in June to 2,513 vehicles.

Another 4,000 to 5,000 South Korean customers have the Model 3 on order, although most of them may have to wait until at least September for delivery, said a source familiar with the matter. The source was not authorised to speak to the media and declined to be identified.

Tesla’s rising popularity among affluent professionals in South Korea, who have been relatively unscathed by the pandemic, is one of many feathers in its cap.

Highlighting the threat it poses to established brands, Tesla last week surpassed Toyota Motor Corp as the world’s most valuable automaker while its second-quarter deliveries smashed expectations at a time when sales at rivals have been laid low by the pandemic.

South Korea’s generous subsidies of 12.43 million won (S$14,000) for the Model 3 have definitely helped sales, bringing the car’s price down to less than $40,000 (S$55,000), but the Silicon Valley automaker has also generated a genuine buzz.

In social media posts, South Korean Tesla fans avidly track the routes of ships bringing its cars to Asia, while at the country’s bars, the latest trendy cocktail is a mix of HiteJinro’s Terra-brand beer and the Korean traditional liquor soju. Smashed together, their names are pronounced “Tesla” in Korean.

The automaker has additionally benefited from free advertising after popular Korean actor Yoo Ah-in, known for his sense of style, drove his Tesla Model X SUV to go grocery shopping on a reality show aired last month.

That has led to a spike in orders for the vehicle, a second person familiar with the matter said without elaborating.

Some new Korean owners noted they bought a Tesla for practical reasons.

Kim Dong-hwan, who works in IT in Seoul, wanted to avoid public transportation during the pandemic and driving fatigue on his long commute.

Not everything is perfect – his Model 3 has a panel gap and he has to wait several months before it will be fixed – but Kim says the benefits and emotional appeal of a technologically advanced brand were worth it.

“I am very satisfied given that Tesla’s self-driving feature has reduced fatigue while driving,” he said.

This article was first published in Asia One . All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.

Tags: #electric cars#TeslaSouth Korea
Previous Post

Australia looking to restrict return of citizens amid coronavirus outbreak

Next Post

Cambodia Fintech Association and Cambodia Association of Finance & Technology merged

Related Posts

5 killed in stampedes at flour distribution sites in Pakistan

5 killed in stampedes at flour distribution sites in Pakistan

by AsiaOne
March 31, 2023
0
5

LAHORE/PESHAWAR, Pakistan - At least five people have been killed in recent weeks and more injured in Pakistan in stampedes at...

Traffic-stopping proposal: Thai cop pops the question while waiting at red light

Traffic-stopping proposal: Thai cop pops the question while waiting at red light

by Ashwini Balan
March 31, 2023
0
5

Wedding proposals can be heart-stopping but ever heard of traffic-stopping? A police officer in Thailand has gone viral for proposing to...

Masks off, beer poured at Hong Kong Rugby Sevens after Covid-19 restrictions dropped

Masks off, beer poured at Hong Kong Rugby Sevens after Covid-19 restrictions dropped

by AsiaOne
March 31, 2023
0
4

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's popular Rugby Sevens tournament kicks off in the financial hub on Friday (March 31), with revellers...

Most Popular

Google suspends Chinese app Pinduoduo from Play store after malware is found

Google suspends Chinese app Pinduoduo from Play store after malware is found

March 22, 2023
37
Russia boosts defences near Japan, accuses US of expanding Asia-Pacific presence

Russia boosts defences near Japan, accuses US of expanding Asia-Pacific presence

March 24, 2023
23
Boris Johnson says he did not lie over Covid-19 lockdown parties

Boris Johnson says he did not lie over Covid-19 lockdown parties

March 24, 2023
22
World Athletics bans transgender women

World Athletics bans transgender women

March 24, 2023
21
Rebels in Indonesia’s Papua release New Zealand hostage video

Rebels in Indonesia’s Papua release New Zealand hostage video

March 12, 2023
20
Latest California storm leaves 5 dead from fallen trees in Bay area

Latest California storm leaves 5 dead from fallen trees in Bay area

March 24, 2023
19

© 2020 By Khmer Daily News

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest
  • Cambodia
  • ASIA
  • World
  • Business
  • Tech

© 2019 The Khmer Daily.

error: Content is protected !!