BYD Chinese electric car special treatment? Delayed subsidies only avoid consumers
Mar 12, 2025
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More than 1,000 pre-contracted customers are inquiring about the delayed payment of the Ato 3, a small electric SUV that BYD Korea ambitiously launched at an early price of 30 million won. It is unclear when the vehicle will be delivered.
The Ato3 has a high-end plus trim of 33.3 million won, and it can be purchased in the early 30 million won range if the electric vehicle subsidy is expected to be received by Seoul residents, exceeding 1,000 pre-contracts within a week of its launch.
As of March 12, Ato3 cannot be found on the Environment Ministry's website for subsidized vehicles. It is expected that the subsidy will be confirmed by the end of March at the earliest.
If it is not registered at the end of March, it can be past the middle of April, and customer delivery is possible at the end of April. In this case, there is a high possibility that many pre-contract customers will leave.
Then why is the subsidy payment standard delayed. In the meantime, Ato3 has been certified by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, which is famous for being picky about imported cars, notification of specifications by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and emission gas and noise certification by the Ministry of Environment.
After
, as the final step, we have applied to the Ministry of Environment for the calculation of electric vehicle subsidies and the registration of environmentally friendly vehicle notices, and are waiting for the results. In fact, it is the final step in determining how much subsidies can be received.
The industry speculates that the relevant government departments are looking at it more rigorously because it is the first Chinese brand passenger electric vehicle certification, especially some regulations say that it is an invisible barrier to Chinese electric vehicles.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Ato3 explained that it did not receive the subsidy calculation because it did not enter the evidence related to the battery charge amount information (SoC).
Relevant provisions are listed in the 「2025 Electric Vehicle Subsidy Business Guidelines」 released by the Ministry of Environment earlier this year. Electric vehicles wishing to receive subsidies must provide SoC information in real time during charging. If not provided, the safety factor items cannot be processed with zero points and all subsidies are not paid.
ByD Korea explained, "We have submitted a related commitment because we know that if we submit a commitment to provide SoC-related information within this year, we will give a one-year grace period," adding, "We look forward to confirming the subsidy as soon as possible."
However, even if a commitment is submitted, information related to SoC must be submitted after the one-year grace period. If this is not met, the vehicle is similarly excluded from the subsidy.
However, even if this regulation is resolved, the subsidy is being finalized. In accordance with the implementation of the battery certification system that erupted after last year's electric vehicle fire, data such as battery ID, SOH (battery status), voltage, current, and temperature should be provided to the Ministry of Environment.
As a result, CATL and BYD, China's No. 1 and No. 2 battery makers, have a problem of having to disclose internal data that may be confidential to the company. The industry believes that Hyundai-Kia and related government agencies are very nervous as BYD continues to be more aggressive than expected in Korea.
BYD, which overtook Tesla to become the world's No. 1 electric car maker last year, entered the Korean market more aggressively than expected, a government official said on condition of anonymity It is also true that the current government feels burdened by the lack of smooth relations with China, he said. "BYD considers success in Korea to be the same as success in the global market, and considering Korea as an outpost for exports to North America in the future is a factor that adds to this burden."
More than 90% of Tesla vehicles imported in Korea from 2023 are from China, but Tesla is a representative brand in the United States Some point out that CEO Elon Musk is a powerful person in the Trump administration and gives special treatment,
No matter the relationship between the government and China, domestic consumers who signed the contract should not suffer, said K, a customer who pre-contracted BYD Ato 3 in January. "I hope BMD Korea will solve subsidies expected to be about 2 million won in Seoul with discount promotions only for pre-contractors."
Editor Kim Tae-jin, tj.kim@carguy.kr
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
