Former Kia Motors India ED Yong S Kim to join Ola Electric

Yong S Kim, former executive director at Kia Motors India, is set to join Ola Electric. According to a source, Kim will take on the key role of business development at Ola Electric, which has laid down some ambitious plans as an electric vehicle (EV) maker. For starters, it has broken ground to set up the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturing plant, in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. Scheduled to be operational next year, the mega factory will have an annual installed production capacity of 10 million units. That itself is an indicator of Ola Electric’s strategy to play the volume game.

Kim, an India veteran who was a part of the team which established Hyundai Motor India, was instrumental in the highly successful launch of the Kia brand in India. 

Starting with the launch of the Seltos in August 2019, Kia has driven up to the fifth spot in the Indian passenger vehicle (PV) market in a short span of time. The Korean expat had moved out of India, in January 2020, to a new role at the Korean OEM’s headquarters in Seoul. Kim's exposure in the global auto industry, and a good understanding of Indian market would be valuable for Ola Electric’s grounds-up, all-new venture. 

The Indian electric two-wheeler segment has been taking the lead in the overall electric mobility space in the country. Kim’s appointment will be crucial for the new EV maker’s strategy to play a significant role in this market, and possibly overseas too.