electrification
Electric car before market launch: Ssangyong goes on an electric mobility mission for the first time
Ssangyong’s first electric car: the Korando e-Motion.
© Ssangyong
The South Korean automaker Ssangyong goes on an electric mobility mission. He plans to launch his first electric car on the market in 2022. The Korando e-Motion should convince with a strong battery and a semi-autonomous security system.
Ssangyong is jumping on the bandwagon of electromobility. At the beginning of next year, the South Korean carmaker plans to add an electric car to its vehicle fleet for the first time: the fully electric version of the Korando model.
The Korando e-Motion appears with a 61.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, which, according to the manufacturer, should have a range of up to 339 kilometers according to the WLTP test procedure. At CCS fast charging stations, the SUV should be able to charge from 20 to 80 percent in 33 minutes. The driver can use a control element to set how much the vehicle recuperates when he takes his foot off the accelerator pedal. So braking energy is to be fed back.
Electric car with three equipment variants
The 190 hp Korando e-Motion will only be available with front-wheel drive. The first electric model from Ssangyong, the fourth largest automobile manufacturer in South Korea, will impress with its “distinctive design, advanced safety systems and extensive equipment”. The SUV is 4.45 meters long and has a trunk volume of 551 liters.
Customers can choose between the three equipment variants Bronze, Platinum and Titanium. The entry-level version appears, among other things, with automatic air conditioning, a smartphone integration and a rear-view camera. The Platinum version also has a parking aid as well as seat and steering wheel heating. The Titanium variant also offers assistance systems such as a blind spot, lane change and exit assistant. In addition, Ssangyong advertises a partially autonomous driving function, such as an automatic emergency braking system, a lane departure warning system and traffic sign recognition.
The Korando was previously available as a petrol and a diesel model. They differ, among other things, in the drive: Both combustion engines are available with both front-wheel and all-wheel drive and offer an engine output of 163 hp. The prices for the petrol and diesel models start at 23,990 euros, with five equipment lines in contrast to the E model. Instead of being available in its home market, the electric SUV will first be available in Europe. The purchase price starts at 39,990 euros.
Ssangyong before being taken over by Edison Motors
Ssangyong is in dire financial straits and was placed under judicial administration in April. The company is to be bought by a consortium led by the South Korean electric truck manufacturer Edison Motors. According to its own information, the company submitted a corresponding application to the Seoul bankruptcy court. Like the South Korean daily “The Korea Herald” reported a few days ago, the takeover should take place after Christmas or at the latest on January 7th. An Edison Motors employee said that the content of the contract still had to be adjusted.
Disagreements over employment contracts and the process of the acquisition have delayed the settlement between Edison Motors and Ssangyong. Edison Motors requested an adjustment to the acquisition price after additional bad assets were discovered in early December. Once the deal is sealed, the next step is to work out a process to reorganize the company. The Korando e-Motion should help to have hope for better business figures.
Sources: Press release Ssangyong, DOES, with material from dpa