Korea may catch on with the Tesla phenomenon as the news-making electric car maker plans to release its flagship sedan and sports utility vehicle (SUV) - the Model S and X - early 2017.

Tesla separately created a stir in the local industry after choosing Hankook Tires’ wheels for its ambitious Model 3, which has drawn mind-boggling demand of 325,000 pre-orders in one week although production will begin in late 2017.

According to the Ministry of Environment (ME) Thursday, Tesla Asia Pacific Ltd. regional director Tony Baker and its executives recently paid a visit to the ministry to question procedures for authorization, subsidy filing and installment of EV charging stations before its launch of electric vehicles (EVs). The company hopes to set a regional office in Korea late this year and install superchargers across the nation.

Tesla Model S, a full-sized all-electric five-door luxury lift-back and the Model X, also all-electric crossover SUV, can travel up to 434 kilometers and 413 kilometers, respectively, on a single charge. The Model S sedans are sold at $70,000 - $110,000 and the Model X SUVs at around $130,000 each back home and are estimated to enter Korea with price tags ranging between 90 million won ($76,831) and 150 million won. The actual purchase would be cheaper on the government subsidy possibly offered up to 20 million won.

Not all variants of the Model S and X would be applied subsidy benefits, as the Korean authority decided not to subsidize electric cars that take more than 10 hours to be fully charged by a supercharger with an output of 7 kilowatt-hour (kWh), meaning that of 70kWh, 75 and 90kWh models, only 70kWh models - 70 and 70D - will come with subsidies.

The U.S. automaker will kick off its Korean operation within this year in southern Seoul and also set up and operate “Tesla Superchargers,” free charging stations exclusively for its EV buyers nationwide timed with launch of its much anticipated all-electric cars planned early next year.

By Noh Won-myung

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