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The Korea Herald
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THE INVESTOR
March 29, 2024

Automobiles

SsangYong to unveil luxury pickup truck next year

  • PUBLISHED :June 09, 2017 - 16:41
  • UPDATED :June 09, 2017 - 16:41
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[THE INVESTOR] SsangYong Motor, owned by India’s auto giant Mahindra & Mahindra, plans to roll out a brand-new luxury pickup truck next year to continue its recent sales streak. 

“We are planning to launch a luxury pickup truck next year,” SsangYong CEO Choi Johng-sik told reporters at a media test drive event of its new SUV G4 Rexton on June 7. “It will require hiring more employees.” 

He added the automaker expects to manufacture around 200,000 units next year, including 100,000 units of Tivoli compact SUV, 50,000 units of G4 Rexton and another 50,000 units of the new pickup truck.




“Considering the production capacity of 240,000 units at our plant, we expect to generate a stable surplus,” he said. 

SsangYong, fueled by the popularity of Tivoli, sold over 150,000 units last year for the first time in 14 years. The once-ailing automaker hopes that its premium G4 Rexton SUV will drive sales to secure sustainable growth. 

SsangYong has set a sales target of 20,000 units of G4 Rexton, which was released in May, this year, and 30,000 units next year. 

“G4 Rexton, with an average price tag of 40 million won (US$35,725) will play a major role in securing the automaker’s profitability,” Choi said. 

G4 Rexton has received a strong response in the market since its release. So far, it has sold 2,703 units out of 7,500 total orders clinched in the initial month. 

SsangYong is also confident its popular flagship Tivoli will fare well amid new entrants in the fast-growing compact SUV market, namely Hyundai Motors’ Kona, which will make its debut next week. 

‘In the short term, there will be some impact, but in the long run, (Kona entry) will grow the whole segment,” Choi said. “Heated competition is expected in the compact SUV sector. In response, we will strengthen our product and marketing efforts.”

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

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