프랑스 미아, 저가 전기차로 한국시장 공략

Published : Feb 27, 2014 - 17:41 Updated : Feb 28, 2014 - 19:37

▲2천만원대 전기차 국내 진출 초읽기

▲주력모델인 3인승 미니버스 3월 제주도서 최초 공개

▲정부 보조금정책 수정 불가피할 듯

파격적인 저가정책으로 유명한 프랑스의 미아전기차(Mia Electric)가 이르면 내년부터 한국판매를 시작한다.

업계 관계자들에 따르면 미아는 최근 한국지사를 설립했고 다음달 제주도에서 열리는 국제전기차엑스포에서 주력모델인 “미아”미니전기버스를 국내 최초로 선보일 예정이다.

3인승 미니버스인 미아의 프랑스 현지 가격은 17,500유로로 한화로 약 2,500만원이다. 아직 국내 가격은 확정되지 않았지만 출시된다면 기존 4,000~5,000만원대인 전기차모델들과 비교했을 때 가격경쟁력은 충분할 것으로 보인다.

미아가 특히 기대를 갖고 있는 지역은 제주도로 총 2,300만원의 전기차보조금을 감안하면 국산경차가격으로 수입전기차 구입이 가능해지기 때문이다.

이에 제주도와 환경부는 보조금정책과 관련해 고심에 빠졌다. 다른 가솔린이나 디젤차를 판매하는 자동차회사들이 형평성 문제를 제기할 수 있기 때문이다. 한 업계 관계자는 “제주도 내에 전기차 수요가 충분하다”며 “대당 보조금을 줄이는 대신 혜택을 받는 차량대수를 늘리는 방안이 유력”하다고 밝히기도 했다.

2010년 설립된 미아전기차는 유럽을 중심으로 최근 판매망을 늘리고 있는데 작년 판매는 약 700대로 아직 적은 편이다. 최근에는 아태지역에 판매법인을 설립하고 아시아시장에도 공을 들이고 있다.

앞좌석 중간에 위치한 운전석이 특징인 미아 미니버스의 경우 16마력에 한번 충전으로 120킬로미터를 달릴 수 있다. 최대속도는 시속 100킬로미터로 주행성능은 아쉽다.

하지만 가격경쟁력을 갖췄고 귀엽고 독특한 외관 덕분에 주고객층인 소상공인이나 배달업 종사자들 뿐만 아니라 젊은 마니아들에게도 어필할 것으로 보인다.

(코리아헤럴드 이지윤 기자 jylee@heraldcorp.com)

<관련 영문기사>

France’s Mia eyes Korean market with cheaper EVs

Jejudo authorities consider policy revision to generous EV incentives

Mia Electric, the France-based manufacturer of more affordable electric vehicles, has recently set up its Korean unit with the aim to start car sales from as early as next year, industry sources said Thursday.

Before its official car launch, the company’s CEO Michele Boos is scheduled to visit Korea to showcase its flagship minibuses during the International Electric Vehicle Expo that will be held on Jejudo Island from March 15 to 21.

“The entry of Mia’s cheaper EVs will bring a paradigm shift in the nascent electric car market, and also offer a challenge to the government’s policies for offering incentives for consumers who purchase electrically powered vehicles,” said an industry source close to the matter.

He added that Korean government authorities have already started discussions on the possible reduction of cash benefits for EV purchases.

This is mostly because cars like Mia could become much less expensive than Korean-made electric vehicles.

Especially on Jejudo Island, which offers the world’s highest EV incentives worth 23 million won ($21,600), the final price of the made-in-France Mia car could be lowered to less than 10 million won, cheaper than a Korean brand’s gasoline-powered mini car.

“It is true that we are reviewing our incentive policy due to Mia’s cheaper cars,” said a Jeju official on condition of anonymity. “We could expand the number of benefiting vehicles while reducing the amount per car. But for now we have no plans for any immediate changes.”

Mia’s flagship model is a full-electric three-seat minibus with a single centered driver’s seat in front. It is not a fast car -- it has a mere 16 horsepower and can run for up to 120 kilometers on a single charge -- but the price tag, coupled with an attractive aesthetic, may appeal to consumers.

Industry watchers believe Mia’s initial target won’t be just small vendors and delivery people, but a younger and hipper generation of motorists may also find the Mia appealing.

In France, the Mia model’s entry price starts from 17,500 euros ($24,000). The company’s pricing policies in Korea have yet to be announced, but it is sure to secure price competitiveness compared to pricier existing or upcoming electric models such as Renault Samsung’s SM3 Z.E., BMW i3 and Nissan Leaf that are priced at about 40 million won to 50 million won ($38,000-$47,000) here.

Since its debut in 2010, Mia Electric has been gradually expanding its presence in the EV market. Last year, some 700 Mia cars were sold mostly in Europe.

As part of its latest efforts to expand beyond the European market, the carmaker last year signed an exclusive distribution deal with Mia Electric Asia to spur car sales in the region, and Korea, especially the resort island of Jejudo, is one of the company’s test-bed markets.

Together with the generous cash incentives, Jejudo boasts a wide charging network of more than 400 stations across the island, more recently attracting global carmakers like BMW and Nissan. The local government also aims to replace all the 371,000 vehicles on the island with full-electric models by 2030.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)