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The latest car maker to announce an entry into the electric ‘lifestyle’ ute market is South Korea’s SsangYong – now known as KG Mobility in its home market – powered by batteries from China’s BYD.
Electric Cars
South Korean car maker SsangYong is poised to beat Toyota, Ford, Isuzu, Nissan and Mitsubishi in the race to introduce an electric ute in the category beneath Australia’s top-selling Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.
Due in the second half of 2024, the ute will be based on the underpinnings of the SsangYong Torres mid-size SUV on sale in South Korea, rather than a heavy-duty ladder-frame chassis similar to the HiLux and Ranger.
It will be powered by batteries designed by Chinese electric-car specialist BYD (Build Your Dreams), which in the Torres EVX electric SUV are good for 500km of claimed driving range.
SsangYong Australia says the electric pick-up is “on [its] radar”, as well as the Torres EVX. The petrol Torres is due in showrooms in the first half of 2024.
It is yet to be confirmed if the SsangYong electric ute will be produced in right-hand drive for Australia.
A media release from the company’s UK distributor specifies launch timing of December 2024 for the pick-up – compared to the second half of 2024 announced globally – however it’s not clear if this arrival timing is specific to the UK.
The South Korean car maker – which was saved by a new owner last year after declaring bankruptcy in late 2020 – recently rebranded to KG Mobility in its home market, but the change is yet to apply in Australia.
As its underpinnings would suggest, it has the front end – and much of the body – of a Torres SUV, with a compact ute tray at the rear.
“This agreement [with BYD] will see battery packs produced in Korea integrated into the Torres EVX and the company’s new [electric] pick-up, which is scheduled for mass production in the second half of 2024, and in other applicable vehicle models,” a media statement from SsangYong said.
The electric ute concept – known as the O100 – was unveiled alongside two other future vehicle concepts, a city SUV known as the KR10, and an electric four-wheel-drive branded the F100.
The KR10 and F100 are confirmed to receive BYD batteries, according to a media statement from KG Mobility chairman Kwak Jae-seon:
“We anticipate that this expanded cooperation with BYD will strengthen our electric vehicle lineup, including the Torres EVX, KR10, and F100, while reorganizing our product range to focus on eco-friendly vehicles.
“This includes introducing a dedicated electric vehicle platform and launching hybrid products.”
SsangYong has also announced it has “begun joint development of the next-generation hybrid system [with BYD] with plans to expand its lineup, starting with a Torres-based hybrid model in 2025.”
“Additionally, there are plans to concurrently develop plug-in hybrids,” the SsangYong media announcement says.
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