South Korean manufacturer SsangYong has announced that it will release its first ever electric vehicle (EV) in the first half of 2021.

The mid-sized SUV, currently being developed under the project name ‘E100’, will have a ‘voluminous yet aerodynamic outline’ which SsangYong has demonstrated in the form of two teaser images.

“Developed under the project name of E100, the image of the all-new EV ahead of its launch next year graphically expresses its exterior design. This mid-sized family car with comparable living space and versatility adopts a new approach to body design, while utilising new materials to maximise efficiency,” said a spokesperson for SsangYong.

“The design is inspired from nature, and especially animals that have adapted to their environment through evolution such as shark’s fins and the shape of scales to minimise wind and water resistance, thus expressing a design maturity with dynamic style.”

They added that the car is “expected to bring a significant addition to the marketplace with a future-focused design for both the interior and exterior, and a new level of product quality”.  

This announcement should prove to be great news for the NZ motoring industry, and although pricing has yet to be announced, we’d expect it to compete with the likes of the new MG ZS EV, the Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia Niro EV for market share.

How the AA can assist EV drivers

The AA goes to approximately 70 callouts per year from EV owners who have run out of juice, so we recently launched our first mobile EV charging breakdown van in the Wellington area.

The AA Battery Service van charger is capable of giving the average EV around 10km of range within 20 - 25 minutes to help get AA Members home or to the nearest EV charging point, at no additional cost.

We also offer the online AA EV Charger Finder service, which we developed in collaboration with the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).