Chilgok County 'Kicks Off' North American Push for Modular EVs

Business Agreement Signed with U.S. Company TAGO EV
Cooperation Framework Established for Local Assembly, Demonstrations, and Distribution
Safety Standards and Performance Validation Discussed with Clemson University Research Center

Chilgok County in North Gyeongsang Province is working to establish a foothold for the North American market for modular low-speed vehicles (LSVs), which it is developing as a regional specialty industry.

The county has stepped up efforts to enter global markets, signing a business agreement with a U.S. company and discussing technical validation and demonstration cooperation with research institutions.

A commemorative photo during a visit to Georgia and South Carolina with officials from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Gyeongbuk Technopark (Gyeongbuk TP), and special zone operators [Photo courtesy of Chilgok County]

From October 25 to 31, Chilgok County visited Georgia and South Carolina with related organizations, including the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Gyeongbuk Technopark (Gyeongbuk TP), and special zone operators, to explore local commercialization and the potential for overseas demonstrations of modular LSVs.

The delegation first visited Peachtree City, Georgia, where it observed the operation of local transportation services, including dedicated LSV roads and safety management systems.

It reviewed actual operating conditions and regulatory practices in the United States and considered how they could be applied to Chilgok County's demonstration project.

The delegation then visited TAGO EV, an LSV manufacturer and seller in South Carolina, to develop specific cooperation plans for entering the North American market.

Gyeongbuk TP and TAGO EV signed a business agreement (MOU) to commercialize modular LSVs locally and enter the market. They agreed to cooperate on vehicle assembly, demonstrations, distribution, and sales.

The delegation also pursued cooperation with research institutions to enhance technological competitiveness. It visited Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) and the International Transportation Innovation Center (ITIC) to discuss compliance with U.S. automotive safety standards, vehicle performance testing, and the use of local demonstration facilities. The county plans to pursue business agreements with both institutions following further discussions.

The visit to the United States is significant because it went beyond a simple survey of overseas markets to explore both commercialization partnerships with local companies and a technical validation system with research institutions. In particular, it is expected to help establish the assembly and distribution infrastructure and safety validation conditions needed to enter the North American market.

A Chilgok County official said, "Through this visit, we confirmed the potential for modular LSVs to enter the North American market and identified specific directions for cooperation. We will work closely with relevant organizations to support local companies' expansion into overseas markets and strengthen the competitiveness of the modular low-speed vehicle industry."

The competitiveness of modular low-speed vehicles depends not only on technological development but also on whether they can succeed in actual overseas markets.

With Chilgok County connecting U.S. companies and research institutions, attention is focused on whether this cooperation will lead to tangible results in demonstrations and exports.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.