KATECH Supplies 20 EVs to Paraguay, Secures Foothold for Expansion into Latin America

[Financial News] The Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH) has established a future mobility technology support center in Paraguay and supplied 20 electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The initiative aims to enhance the technical competitiveness of the local auto parts industry while supporting Korean automakers and auto parts companies seeking to enter Latin American markets. It is seen as laying the groundwork for cooperation linking research and development, parts production and EV deployment.
KATECH said on the 12th that it had held the ‘Automotive Parts TASK Center Opening Ceremony and EV Handover Ceremony’ in Hernandarias, Paraguay, on the 11th (local time).
The project is part of the Industry and Trade Cooperation Development Support Program (ODA), promoted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). It was launched to share the results of the Korea-Paraguay industrial cooperation project, which has been underway since 2022, and expand cooperation between the two countries in future mobility.
About 100 key officials from both countries attended the event, including KATECH President Jin Jong-wook, South Korean Ambassador to Paraguay Sohn Hyuk-sang, Paraguayan Vice President Antonio Barrios and Minister of Trade and Industry Marco Riquelme.
The newly opened TASK Center is a comprehensive technical support facility equipped with a training and administration building and a machining and production training building, among other facilities. It provides local auto parts companies with technical services needed across manufacturing, including precision machining, prototype development, testing and evaluation, and assistance in resolving technical challenges.
Local specialists trained by KATECH will work with relevant organizations, including Itaipu Technological Park, to operate the center and provide technical support to companies. The aim is to strengthen the Paraguayan auto parts industry’s in-house technical capabilities and expand its local production base.
Support for the adoption of eco-friendly vehicles was also provided. Following its supply of electric buses last year, KATECH completed the installation and rollout this year of 20 KGM Musso EV electric pickup trucks from KG Mobility Corporation and 15 EV chargers, and handed them over to the Paraguayan government. The chargers comprised five fast chargers and 10 slow chargers.
The joint provision of EVs and charging infrastructure is also expected to help expand the infrastructure needed to operate eco-friendly vehicles in Paraguay. In particular, it is expected to provide an opportunity to assess the growth potential of the local electrification market and identify market-entry opportunities for Korean small and mid-sized mobility companies.
KATECH plans to support the TASK Center’s stable operation going forward and expand cooperative projects by linking local companies’ technological needs with the capabilities of Korean auto parts companies.
KATECH President Jin Jong-wook said, “The opening of the TASK Center and the provision of EVs and charging infrastructure will provide an important foundation for advancing Paraguay’s eco-friendly mobility industry.” He added, “By training local specialists and strengthening technical capabilities, we will support the sustainable development of Paraguay’s automotive industry and actively help Korean automakers and auto parts companies secure new growth opportunities in Latin America.”

[email protected] Kim Dong-ho Reporter