| U.S.-based electric automaker Tesla's performance sedan, the Model S, is displayed at a showroom in Shanghai. / AFP-Yonhap |
By Jhoo Dong-chan
The U.S.-based electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors is expected to open its first Korean dealerships in Gangnam, southern Seoul, and a new shopping mall in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, by the end of the year.
According to sources, Thursday, Tesla officials are holding discussions with Shinsegae, the retail giant that owns the new shopping mall, over opening at Starfield Hanam shopping mall. The mall is expected to open next month.
A Shinsegae official said that Tesla and the Korean retailer "have already agreed" to open a dealership on the second floor of the mall, near its parking lot, installed with chargers for electric vehicles.
"Discussions over details are under way, but the Tesla showroom will open by the end of November," a Shinsegae official was quoted as saying. "And Tesla will launch its sales as soon as it finalizes the certification process with the government."
If the certification process takes longer and is completed after November, Tesla is expected to display its models first and then start sales later after approval, an official added.
Shinsegae Group has reportedly strived to host a Tesla dealership since it said simply displaying the popular electric vehicles there would attract visitors to the new shopping mall.
Shinsegae Vice President Chung Yong-jin's special interest in Tesla was also another reason behind its opening at the new mall. He was the first Korean customer to buy its performance Model S in 2014.
Whether the new shopping mall will host the nation's first Tesla dealership is, however, still in doubt since the electric automaker is also seeking to open another dealership in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul.
After talks with Lotte fell through, Tesla is considering opening a showroom in Gangnam, widely known for heavily concentrated wealth and a high standard of living.
If Tesla finalizes the land purchase and sales approval quicker than anticipated, its dealership in the area would open as early as October to become the nation's first Tesla dealership.
Founded by CEO Elon Musk in 2003, Tesla Motors first gained widespread attention for producing the Tesla Roadster, the first fully electric sports car. Then it introduced a second vehicle, the Model S, a fully electric sedan. The Model X, a fully electric crossover, followed.
Tesla has also invested in building high-speed supercharging stations in a bid to help sell more electric cars. It said it has built more than 600 supercharger stations and over 3,000 connectors worldwide.
On March 31, Tesla unveiled the affordable Model 3 sedan to preorders. It received a total of 253,000 preorders for the car in one week.
So far, it has gathered more than 370,000 preorders globally.