미국 전기차 업체 테슬라모터스가 한국에서는 처음 기업설명회를 열고 투자 유치에 나섰다. 그러나 한국 판매 계획에 대해서는 여전히 말을 아꼈다.
테슬라의 제프리 에반슨 IR담당 부사장은 “한국시장은 매력적이지만 아직 판매 계획에 대해서는 밝힐 수 없다”며 “이미 진출해 있는 시장에서도 물량부족을 겪고 있어 현재로서는 여력이 없다”고 밝혔다.
한국이 우선순위 시장이 아닌 것 아니냐는 질문에는 “꼭 그렇지는 않다”고 덧붙였다.
그는 또 삼성SDI와 LG화학 등과의 추가전지공급에 대해서는 논의가 계속되고 있지만 최종계약까지는 “수년”이 걸릴 것이라고 말했다.
테슬라의 기업설명회를 앞두고 국내에서는 에반슨 부사장 등이 방한 중 관계부처와 충전시설 등 전기차인프라 관련 논의를 할 것이라는 관측도 있었으나 그는 코리아헤럴드에 환경부 등은 방문하지 않았다고 밝혔다.
반면 이날 테슬라관계자들이 국민연금공단을 방문한 점 등을 감안하면 한국에서의 테슬라의 주요 관심사가 자동차판매보다는 투자유치에 있지 않겠냐는 것이 전문가들의 지배적인 의견이다.
이에 한 증권사 애널리스트는 “모델S 등이 불티나게 팔리고 있지만 여전히 회사는 재정적자 상태이고 최근 한달 간 주가가 약 20% 가까이 빠졌다. 국민연금에서 투자를 할지는 미지수”라고 말했다.
이외에도 테슬라는 최근 잇단 차량화재사고와 공장직원의 부상 등 악재가 끊이지 않고 있다.
테슬라는 현재 내년 전세계 차량판매목표를 21,500대로 잡고 있으며, 아시아에서는 기존의 일본과 홍콩에 이어 올해안으로 중국 상해에 판매지점을 열 계획이다. (코리아헤럴드 김지현/이지윤 기자)
<관련 영문 기사>
Tesla undecided on launching in Korea
Electric carmaker more interested in securing investment from pension fund By Kim Ji-hyun and Lee Ji-yoon
Tesla Motors on Monday called Korea an “exciting” market, but would not confirm whether it would be opening its next store here.
Jeff Evanson, vice president of investor relations at the U.S.-based firm, told The Korea Herald that while he could not say if Korea is a low-priority market, Tesla simply cannot meet the market demand, saying it faces a supply constraint where it is already selling.
“Certainly we do see Korea as an exciting market, but we can’t make any announcement on our next store,” Evanson said at Tesla’s first investor relations session in Korea held in Yeouido.
The visit comes after Tesla stocks edged up 20 percent over the past month.
Market watchers said for Korea, Tesla’s interest seemed to be not in selling cars, but in receiving investment.
“They don’t seem to have plans to sell cars here,” said Shin Jung-gwan, a senior analyst at KB Securities.
Evanson on Monday confirmed that he met with high-ranking officials at the National Pension Service, a potential investor.
Shin expressed skepticism about the state-run agency taking interest in Tesla, citing the poor stock records and the fact that Tesla was continuously losing money.
Evanson also said he had not met Environment Ministry officials, further indicating there had been no discussion regarding a car launch here.
Next year, Tesla expects to deliver up to 21,500 cars. Some of those cars will go to Shanghai, where Tesla will open a new store this year.
“We have got to be busy in Asia,” Evanson said.
Evanson added that the company would continue to work with its partners on cell supply agreements.
“We are truly in discussions with other cell suppliers, including Samsung SDI and LG Chem. It does take several years to become qualified cell suppliers for Tesla,” he said, confirming that Tesla is still in talks despite having recently signed an agreement with long-standing partner Panasonic.
Last month, Tesla had announced its decision to expand its automotive-grade lithium-ion battery cell orders from the Japanese brand -– Panasonic will supply nearly 2 billion cells over the next four years.
Tesla’s visit this week sparked speculation that the company is interested in investing here, a move that would mark an about-face from its earlier statements when it said it had “no interest” in Korea.
In Asia, Tesla currently operates in Japan and Hong Kong, with Japan serving as its Asian headquarters.
Recently, Tesla was criticized for possible safety violations after a number of its workers were burned during factory operations.
Some of the Model S sedans also came under criticism for catching fire following collisions. Tesla’s chief executive officer Elon Musk, however, said the company would not be recalling the cars.
For Korea, Tesla may be yet another carmaker to supply electric car batteries to. Samsung SDI and LG Chem both are currently still in talks on supply. (
jemmie@heraldcorp.com) (jylee@heraldcorp.com)
