U.S. automaker General Motors Co. (GM) will bring its new electric vehicle, the Volt, to South Korea next year for a market test before a possible launch, the top executive for the automaker's
South Korean unit said Wednesday.
"The Chevrolet Volt is going to bring innovative change to the global auto market. We will bring a Volt demonstration fleet to Korea next year to examine consumer interest before deciding on the launch in the market," said Mike Arcamone, president of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology.
The move came as GM began taking customer orders this week for the Volt, the industry's "first electric vehicle with extended-range capability," according to the company.
For up to the first 60 kilometers, the vehicle runs on electricity stored on its lithium-ion battery, but when the battery runs low, a gas-powered generator automatically kicks in to extend the vehicle's driving range by another 450 kilometers, the automaker said in a press release.
The Volt comes with a starting price of US$41,000, but federal tax incentives can lower the price to $33,500, according to the press release.