Renault Samsung aims to sell 1,000 electric vehicles in 2015

Renault Samsung Motor said Friday it has set a goal of selling 1,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in South Korea this year. 

The local unit of French automaker Renault S.A. disclosed the plan during the second International Electric Vehicle Expo which opened at an international convention center in Jeju Island.

In an initial step to attain the sales target, the automaker said, it will push to replace taxis with eco-friendly EVs.

According to data compiled by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA), Renault Samsung's SM3 Z.E. was the country's No. 2 best-selling EV last year.

Sales of SM3 Z.E.s reached 309 units or 26.1 percent of the total 1,183 EVs sold nationwide in 2014, the data said. Kia Motors' Soul EV compact topped the EV sales list with 414 vehicles or 35 percent of the total sold. Kia's Ray EV ranked third with 202 units or 17.1 percent, followed by BMW i3 (170 vehicles or 14.4 percent) and GM Korea's Chevrolet Spark (70 units or 5.9 percent).

Meanwhile, sales of EVs in the nation jumped 65.5 percent to 1,183 units on-year in 2014, the KAMA said.