Tesla Korea faces mounting criticism for poor after-sales service and inadequate infrastructure, as repeated battery management system (BMS) errors continue to affect customers, experts said Tuesday.
The U.S. EV maker must invest heavily in service centers nationwide, analysts said, as Model Y sales surge across South Korea.
According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association, Tesla ranked as the nation’s top-selling overseas auto brand for three consecutive months starting in July. The company sold 9,069 EVs in September alone, outperforming competitors like BMW Korea and Mercedes-Benz Korea.
Despite strong sales, Tesla Korea’s after-sales system remains far less reliable than that of BMW and Mercedes-Benz, experts added.
Rep. Park Yong-kab’s office reported 4,637 BMS errors in Tesla Korea vehicles over the past five years. The company replaced nearly half of these batteries with remanufactured units, which have lower energy capacity.
Professor Kim Pil-soo of Daelim University College emphasized that remanufactured batteries undergo less strict certification than new units. He urged Tesla to expand service centers to match growing sales.
Currently, Tesla Korea operates 14 service centers, eight of which serve Seoul and nearby areas. Customers report waits of three to six months for BMS repairs in over 100 cases.
Kim recommended stricter government oversight to prevent ongoing inconvenience from Tesla’s sales-focused approach. “EV batteries degrade after three to four years, so Tesla must act immediately to widen repair infrastructure,” he said.
Analysts also noted Tesla Korea contributes less to the regional economy than German rivals. Last year, Tesla posted 1.69 trillion won in sales and 25.9 billion won in operating profit but made no donations. In comparison, Mercedes-Benz Korea and BMW Korea donated 6.8 billion won and 1.3 billion won, respectively.
The rapid sales growth combined with underdeveloped service infrastructure and delayed battery repairs highlights the urgent need for Tesla Korea to improve after-sales operations.
