Renault-Samsung launch their first electric car
- The Renault-Nissan group has started actively in the marketing of electric vehicles. Nissan offers the Leaf of which 83 000 copies have been sold since its launch (Japan, USA, Europe), Renault offers the Zoe, of which 8 000 copies have been sold since its launch (in Europe), but also the Fluence ZE, Kangoo ZE and Twizy.
- Renault-Samsung completes the groups catalog of electric vehicles with the launch of the SM3 ZE, which is made from a Renault Fluence with a Samsung front grill and logo.
- The sedan produced in Busan, will cost 45 million won (31 150€), but subsidies and various tax advantages granted by the Korean government and by certain regions may bring the vehicle down to a competitive price of 19 million won (13,150 euros).
- The Korean subsidiary of Renault plans to produce 1 000 SM3 ZE, in 2013 and 4 000 annually from 2014. It hopes to dominate the Korean market for electric cars.
- Renault-Samsung is the second Korean manufacturer to produce an electric model after Kia that introduced the Ray EV in 2012. Kia only made 90 Ray EV in 2013 against 630 in 2012. It plans to launch an electric version of the Soul as well as an electric compact sedan in 2014. Korea currently has 1 200 charging stations (5 000 in France).
