[Digital Times, Kim Yang-hyuk] The facilities for repairing vehicles are at a minimal level although the sales of electric cars running on pure battery power are on the rise. It is pointed out that although the number of electric cars is still less than 1% of all vehicles, it is necessary to increase electric vehicle maintenance facilities and manpower as they are directly connected with safety.

On September 24, service centers of Hyundai & Kia Motors, Korea GM, Renault Samsung Motors and other domestic automakers showed less than 10% of the total service centers that could be serviced when serious flaws occurred in passenger cars.

There are few places that can be repaired in case of electric car breakdown despite domestic automakers operate hundreds of service centers nationwide through their partner companies and most electric car repair service is possible only at the direct service center.

GM Korea has 400 service centers nationwide, but only 11 (2.75%) of all electric vehicles repair services are available. Renault Samsung has the largest number with 45 (9.57 %) of the more than 470 companies in the nation.

An expert of a maintenance company said, "In order to repair an electric car, we have to bring in relevant inspection equipment. Even if it is a burden, it is inevitable to install it because the demand is small."

By August this year, there were 18,435 electric vehicles registered in Korea. It is up 140.13 % from the same period last year. The government plans to subsidize 14,000 electric vehicles this year, and plans to increase it to 20,000 next year.

The same is true for Hyundai and Kia, the largest car makers in Korea. The direct service centers operated by the two companies are 22 and 18, respectively. They also have about 1,400 cooperative service centers, including Blue Hands and Auto Cue, and about 800 cooperative service centers, respectively. "If it is not a serious flaw, it can be repaired at a direct service center and all Blue Hands nationwide," a Hyundai representative said.

However, there are limited places where you can actually get repairs. According to the automobile recall center, Hyundai Motor will recall 3408 Ioniq electric cars from the National Service Center and Blue Hands from the 28th. The recall is the first since Hyundai`s launch of Ioniq Electric in June last year, and it accounted for 40% of the total 8457 vehicles sold in Korea by August this year.

"There are a lot of vehicles now, so we can make reservations in mid-November," an employee of Hyundai Motor Service Center in the Seoul metropolitan area mentioned.

Jeju Provincial Center officials who have the largest number of electric vehicles nationwide also stated, "It is too busy catching the schedule for Chuseok holidays. It will take quite a while." As a result, some consumers who have received a recall notice from Hyundai have complained about online communities, saying they cannot help but drag a vehicle that may cause safety problems.


By Kim Yang Hyuk mj@


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