SsangYong is planning a number of electric models to launch by the end of the decade, according to its UK boss, Paul Williams.
The company’s plan for EVs hasn’t been finalized yet but Williams told Autocar that it may forge a partnership with another brand that can supply the South Korean automaker with the batteries it requires. So far, SsangYong has reached the point of starting to test all-electric Tivoli prototypes.
“When you’re small, you can’t afford to take those risks [associated with investment in EV tech],” said Williams. “Nissan and Renault have invested a lot, for example, but had to wait a long time to see a return. SsangYong could tie up with another brand like BMW.”
In all probability, SsangYong will initially launch electric variants of its existing models rather than making ground-up EVs, like Volkswagen is planning to do. Among future models that could receive electrification include a production version of the Nissan Qashqai-rivalling SIV-2 concept.
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