'Gwangmyeong, the Top City for Electric Vehicle Exports, Surpasses Ulsan and Hwaseong'

Export Amount of $320 Million in November Last Year
Ulsan Buk-gu $140 Million - Hwaseong $100 Million
Gwangmyeong Largest Export Hub for Two Consecutive Months
EV9 and EV3 Production Popular in North America and Europe

Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province emerged as the largest domestic electric vehicle (EV) export hub in the fourth quarter of last year. This was due to increased EV sales overseas, including in the United States, from Kia's Gwangmyeong Plant (Autoland Gwangmyeong). It surpassed Ulsan (Buk-gu) and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi, which had previously ranked first and second among local governments in EV exports.

According to trade statistics by local governments and items compiled by the Korea International Trade Association on the 3rd, Gwangmyeong's EV export value in November last year was recorded at $320.23 million. During the same period, Ulsan Buk-gu exported $142.47 million worth of EVs, and Hwaseong exported $106.89 million, making Gwangmyeong's exports about two to three times higher.

Gwangmyeong became the top EV exporting local government on a monthly basis in October last year and maintained the first place for two consecutive months. Although Ulsan led with about $3.5 billion and Hwaseong with $2.7 billion in cumulative exports from the beginning of the year to November, Gwangmyeong (about $2 billion) has taken the lead in the fourth quarter by increasing its export volume.

Electric SUV EV9 produced at Kia Autoland Gwangmyeong (Gwangmyeong Plant). Provided by Hyundai Motor Group.

On an annual basis last year, Ulsan ranked first, Hwaseong second, and Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province third, with Gwangmyeong in fourth place. Due to a temporary demand stagnation (chasm) in EV exports overseas, Ulsan and Hwaseong saw double-digit declines in export values compared to the same period last year.

Kia's Gwangmyeong Plant began exporting its first electric mid-size SUV, the EV9, in the second half of 2023, and has also been selling the compact SUV EV3 overseas since the second half of last year. The EV9 sells well in North America, while the EV3 is popular in Europe. Hwaseong hosts Kia's Hwaseong Plant (Autoland Hwaseong), and Ulsan has Hyundai Motor's plant. Kia Hwaseong Plant produces the company's first dedicated electric vehicle, the EV6, and the Niro EV. Ulsan, the largest domestic automobile production site, manufactures the Ioniq 5, Kona EV, and Genesis electric vehicles across its plants 1 to 5.

Hyundai Motor Ulsan Plant Export Shipping Wharf Yard. Photo by Yonhap News

Unlike Hyundai Motor's Ulsan Plant, which has actively produced and exported EVs for over a decade, and Kia Hwaseong Plant, which has done so since 2018, Gwangmyeong Plant began full-scale EV production and overseas sales only last year. Hyundai Motor Group is building new dedicated EV plants in Ulsan and Hwaseong, but in Gwangmyeong, it is producing EVs by upgrading existing production lines.

Gwangmyeong is expected to maintain its status as the largest EV export region for the time being, but sustaining the lead will be challenging. New EV models are scheduled to be introduced sequentially at other domestic plants, and Hyundai Motor Group plans to gradually increase local production volumes at its plants worldwide. The newly operational plant in Georgia, USA, will produce eco-friendly vehicles such as EVs and hybrids, and new EV models are also planned for the new plants in Ulsan and Hwaseong. Last year, Hyundai Motor Group announced a mid-to-long-term plan to increase EV production to about 3.6 million units worldwide, including 1.51 million units domestically by 2030.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.