The world’s leading electric vehicle maker Tesla Motors Inc. finally hit the Korean auto market with its Model S 90D delivered to its first Korean customer on Tuesday.

According to the U.S.-based EV giant’s Korean sales unit, the company invited its first Korean customer along with family members to a closed, private event to hand over the Model S 90D at its newly-built service center in Deungchon-dong, western Seoul. About 100 guests attended the event, but Tesla founder and chief executive Elon Musk who was initially speculated to attend the event to personally deliver the car key, didn’t come. Instead, John McNeill, head of global sales and service, attended the event.

Considering that Tesla’s car sales have rapidly surged in Hong Kong after its first car delivery in the country was made, the company expects it would repeat the same success in Asia’s fourth largest economy with the delivery of its vehicles kicking off. The company, however, did not disclose how many pre-orders it has received so far in Korea, citing its global sales policy.

During the launching event on Tuesday, not only did Tesla introduce the vehicle but it also offered test rides and demonstrated its driver assist feature autopilot. The autopilot includes automatic emergency braking systems (AEBS) and forward collision warning systems (FCWS) that allow a vehicle to automatically speed down according to traffic conditions and change car lanes - offering a kind of semi-autonomous drive.

Ahead of the first car delivery in Korea, Tesla has opened its store and service center and set up its superchargers, the company’s fast electric vehicle charging stations. The first supercharger was installed at the Grand InterContinental hotel in southern Seoul last month, followed by others at Gran Seoul in Jongno, central Seoul, Tedin Family Resort in Cheonan, South Chungcheong, and Hansol Oak Valley Resort in Wonju, Gangwon. Tesla plans to build total 14 superchargers in Korea by this year. Tesla’s Model S 90D can drive up to 270 kilometers on a single 30-minute charge using a supercharger.

Following the private launching event on Tuesday, Tesla will deliver the Model S 90D to its other Korean owners who have made pre-orders online as it has done so across other countries.

By Park Chang-young

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]