April 26, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Renault Samsung Motors CEO Park Dong-hoon on May 31 said the carmaker is still mulling on the corporate badge to be used for its upcoming Renault-brand Clio hatchback. 

“At first, we were preparing to put Renault Samsung badge on Clio. But many people told us the Renault diamond emblem fits better on Clio at the Seoul Motor Show,” Park told reporters at a test-driving event held in Seoul. “So we are still deciding what to do.”

Meanwhile, the automaker’s two-seater electric vehicle Twizy will bear the diamond logo for the first time in the Korean market. 

“Twizy is not a car that sells tens of thousands of units. It costs a lot to put a new badge on a car. If we change the logo, the price of the car will increase significantly,” he said. “Also it is about time to raise Renault’s brand awareness.”

Industry sources say Renault’s plan to put the diamond logo on imported cars is part of its plan to drop the Samsung brand from Renault Samsung Motors -- which was formed when it acquired ailing Samsung Motor for 620 billion won (US$554.27 million) in 2000.

Renault Samsung Motors, however, has denied such plans. 

At the event, Park said the Clio hatchback’s launch could be delayed from the planned August date as its internal testing -- which include trim level and color coordination -- is taking longer than expected. “But we are still keeping the annual sales goal of 120,000 units,” he said. 

Last year, Renault Samsung sold 111,101 vehicles in the local market, fueled by the popularity of SM6 sedan and QM6 SUV.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)