Import car manufacturers will launch a large number of electric vehicles this year. China's BYD, which ranks first in global electric vehicle sales, officially debuted in the country at the beginning of this year, and BMW, a German brand that is likely to be the top seller of import cars last year, is also expanding its electric vehicle lineup.
On the 2nd, the industry reported that BMW will release the SAC (Sport Activity Coupe) iX2, a coupe-style SUV, in the domestic market in the first quarter of this year. So far, the SAC lineup has included electric models such as the iX1, iX3, and iX, but this will be the first coupe design. The iX2 was first unveiled in the global market in March last year and made its debut at the Busan Mobility Show held in June.
The iX2 boasts a low drag coefficient of 0.25, enhancing both functionality and efficiency. It is equipped with the 5th generation BMW eDrive system, which is part of BMW Group's pure electric drive system expertise. The system delivers a maximum output of 204 horsepower and a maximum torque of 25.5 kg·m. The 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time is 8.6 seconds. A 64.8 kWh high-voltage battery is installed, providing a driving range of 478 km when fully charged.
BMW plans to launch the iX45, iX60, and iX m70 in the third quarter of this year. These are updated versions of the electric SAV iX40, iX50, and iX m60, respectively. While there are no major changes to the exterior, performance has been enhanced, warranting a name change. BMW's iX series was first launched as an electric vehicle model in 2021.
MINI will sequentially release three electric vehicles starting in the first quarter, including the fully revamped fourth-generation Electric Mini Cooper, Electric Mini Countryman, and eJCW.
BYD will officially debut in the country on Jan. 16. The company has been preparing for its entry into the domestic market since last year and has recently completed the selection of six domestic dealers, establishing a full-fledged sales network.
BYD is expected to sequentially launch the compact SUV ATTO3, the mid-sized sedan SEAL, and the hatchback DOLPHIN, while BYD Korea plans to announce specific details such as pricing on the 16th. In China, ATTO3 is sold in the range of 20 million won, while it retails for around 30 million won in Southeast Asia and Japan.
Germany's Audi is also launching two electric vehicles in a bid to regain its prestige. It will release the electrified model A6 e-tron of the mid-size sedan A6, which once competed with BMW's 5 series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class in the domestic import car market. This vehicle is based on the electric-only platform 'PPE (Premium Platform Electric)' developed jointly by Audi and Porsche. It is equipped with a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery, enabling a range of 469 km under domestic temperature conditions when fully charged.
The electric SUV Q6 e-tron is also set to launch in the first half of the year. This model is the first mass-produced vehicle that applies PPE technology, featuring the dynamic proportions characteristic of Audi's Q models. The 100 kWh lithium-ion battery consists of 12 battery modules and 180 prismatic batteries, allowing for a maximum driving range of 641 km when fully charged.
Porsche will also launch the electric SUV Macan Electric this year. The Macan Electric is Porsche's second all-electric vehicle following the pure electric sports car 'Taycan' and was first unveiled in the country in June last year. The Macan Electric will be released in four variants: Macan, Macan 4, Macan 4S, and Macan Turbo.