SsangYong celebrates its diamond jubilee

As Korean SUV manufacturer, SsangYong, now 73 percent owned by Mahindra & Mahindra, celebrates 60 years of its foundation, it is a good time to look back on the company’s chequered history.

Its origins go back to 1954 since when it has a variety of associations with other well-known automotive brands including Mercedes-Benz, Daewoo and the Chinese player SAIC - which now owns MG. 

M&M finalised its acquisition in March 2011, and a year or so later introduced the Rexton (internationally the Rexton W) in India as a CKD and assembled at M&M Chakan plant.  SsangYong which means double dragon has always specialised in producing 4x4s, and today that also includes SUVs (sports utility vehicles) and MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles).

While in the past the company has utilised technology from other producers, notably Mercedes-Benz, today SsangYong designs and manufactures its own key components including state of the art high-technology engines.

In the 1980s, SsangYong started developing modern four-wheel drive vehicles for the world market with a range that included first generation Korando and Musso in the early 1990s.  Since 2000, further new models such as Rexton, Kyron and Korando have helped position SsangYong as a leader in the SUV market, while giving Korea its own complete SUV product range.

In September 2010, the third iteration of Korando was presented to the world’s media. This contemporary looking C-segment crossover was designed by Giugiaro, the celebrated Italian automotive designer, while also embracing monocoque construction for the first time, marking Korando as a signification product departure for SsangYong.

Looking into the near future, the company will launch an all new B-segment car (codenamed X100).  Various iterations of this have been shown at recent international motor shows, the most recent being its XLV concept at Geneva in March 2014.  This product line, which is being jointly developed with Mahindra, will spawn long and short wheel base derivatives. Technical teams from India have visited Korea, and both companies are collaborating closely in R&D.

SsangYong is keen to gain an increasing share of the global market. With the new Korando together with other new models in the range, it has begun exporting to China, and is increasing volumes to Russia.  While Western Europe and the UK are key markets, further growth will come from India and Africa in partnership with M&M as well as Central & LatAm and Eastern Europe.  There is now a network of over 1,000 sales outlets around the world in over 90 countries.

Headquartered in the Gangnam district, Seoul, its principal vehicle manufacturing plant is at Pyungtaek which has the capacity and technology to produce 240,000 cars a year.

Caption: Yoo-il Lee, SsangYong Motor Company CEO and the XLV concept car at Geneva Motor Show 2014