Edison Motors Gunsan Plant Completed... Accelerating Jeonbuk Gunsan-Type Jobs

Published 19 Aug.2021 17:58(KST)

Jeonbuk Province Provides Multifaceted Support for Early Settlement of Gunsan-Type Jobs

Edison Motors Gunsan Plant Completed... Accelerating Jeonbuk Gunsan-Type Jobs

[Jeonju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Han-ho] Jeonbuk Province announced on the 19th that it held a completion ceremony for Edison Motors Co., Ltd.'s Gunsan plant, a participating company in the Gunsan-type job project in Jeonbuk.

The completion ceremony was attended by Governor Song Ha-jin, Gunsan Mayor Kang Im-jun, Edison Motors Co., Ltd. Chairman Kang Young-kwon, regional chairpersons of the two major labor unions, as well as related central government officials including Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, Moon Seung-wook, Minister of Industry, Kim Yong-gi, Vice Chairman of the Job Committee, Moon Sung-hyun, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, and about 40 others including local assembly members from Gunsan and members of the Win-Win Cooperation Council, celebrating the completion of the new electric vehicle production plant.

In particular, President Moon Jae-in sent a congratulatory message via video, stating, “The Jeonbuk Gunsan-type job project is a win-win job model in which the two major labor unions participated together for the first time nationwide, attracting great attention,” and added, “It is a fruit that created an opportunity for leap forward in a difficult situation where jobs are decreasing.”

The Edison Motors Co., Ltd. Gunsan plant invested a total of 30.2 billion KRW, with a site area of 105,000㎡ (30,000 pyeong) and a building area of 28,000㎡ (8,600 pyeong), constructing three production buildings, one research institute, and one dormitory.

At the Gunsan plant, about 150 large and medium-sized electric buses (Smart8.7/9.3) and about 2,000 electric trucks (Smart T1.0) will be produced this year, with a total of 25,550 units planned for production by 2023.

Additionally, 257 new employees are planned to be hired. In the process of recruiting 83 new personnel in June for full-scale production starting in August this year, 63 were selected from local residents, demonstrating a commitment to regional coexistence.

Edison Motors Co., Ltd. is a specialized manufacturer of CNG and electric buses, holding 31% of the domestic market share, and is a strong small and medium enterprise with its own technologies including 26 registered patents such as its proprietary BMS (Battery Management System).

Jeonbuk Province expects the ‘Gunsan-type job project,’ which gained momentum through the government’s selection as a win-win regional job project, to accelerate business promotion with the completion of Edison Motors Co., Ltd.’s new plant following the first electric vehicle production and delivery by Myungshin Co., Ltd. in June.

The Jeonbuk Gunsan-type job project is the nation’s first win-win job model involving participation from the two major labor unions.

Governor Song Ha-jin said, “Through the Jeonbuk Gunsan-type job project, a new job model centered on strong medium-sized and small enterprises, Gunsan is overcoming crisis and becoming a core hub for electric commercial vehicles,” and added, “We will strive for early settlement of the project by timely implementing the win-win agreement, supporting technology development, and fostering professional manpower.”