Casper Electric debuts as top selling Hyundai Motor EV model in Aug.
SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Casper Electric, the new entry-level mini SUV model from Hyundai Motor Co., made a strong debut last month to become the company's bestselling electric vehicle model in South Korea, according to industry data Tuesday.
The combined domestic sales of Hyundai Motor EVs, including the Casper Electric, Kona Electric, Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and Nexo, in August totaled 3,676 units.
Casper Electric led the sales with 1,439 units sold, making it the bestselling model among Hyundai Motor EVs last month. It was followed by the Ioniq 5 with 1,222 units, the Ioniq 6 with 405 units, the Nexo with 347 units and the Kona Electric with 263 units.
The combined August sales tally marked the highest monthly EV sales for Hyundai so far this year, according to the company.
The feat was achieved despite heightened public concerns over the safety of EVs following recent fire incidents involving electric models in the country, and a 5.3 percent decline in overall global sales for the South Korean automaker last month.
"Achieving the highest sales for the year despite a decline in domestic demand for EVs is a significant accomplishment. We will continue to focus on developing new safety technologies, including those for the battery management system, to address customer concerns," a Hyundai Motor official said.
The Casper Electric was unveiled to the public in June at the Busan International Mobility Show. It features a larger body from the previous internal combustion engine counterpart and offers a driving range of up to 315 kilometers from a single charge, as well as a suite of new safety and convenience features.
A key selling feature of the model is its affordability, which can be purchased in the mid-20 million-won (US$14,936) range when factoring in EV subsidies. Thanks to its strong value proposition and new features, Hyundai received around 8,000 preorders in the first two weeks of its sales.
To address recent consumer fears over EV fires, Hyundai launched an EV safety inspection campaign last month for its customers, offering free inspections of nine key safety aspects related to its EVs.
Hyundai has also launched a myth-busting initiative over concerns surrounding EV charging practices by sharing details of its core battery technologies and battery-related data, and offering expert opinions to the media.
Industry watchers attribute Hyundai Motor's comprehensive approach to being instrumental in boosting consumer confidence and driving the company's EV sales last month.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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