SsangYong Motor launches new model ‘Rexton Sports’

SsangYong Motor officially released its new sport utility vehicle “Rexton Sports” at a press conference on Tuesday, where the automaker’s head Choi Jong-sik laid out the company’s marketing strategy for domestic and overseas markets.

The Rexton Sports is the second model that SsangYong has launched this year, with its release coming just six days after the launch of the upgraded “2018 Korando Turismo” last Wednesday.

The company has already received 2,500 preorders for its new SUV model from Tuesday to Friday last week. Despite sluggish demands overall, the sales goal of the company in the domestic market is 120,000 units this year, surpassing its performance of last year (106,667 units).

“We aim to sell 200,000 units in the long run,” said Choi, suggesting his resolve to outstrip GM Korea, which ranked third in sales in Korea last year (132,377 units). At the media conference, Choi also spoke in detail how his company would target overseas markets, especially emerging markets on top of European countries going forward.

“Our main target markets will be India, Central and South America, some Asian countries and Russia. The sales goal for the Rexton Sports in overseas markets is 20,000 units,” said Choi. SsangYong Motor is planning to launch its large-size SUV “G4 Rexton” in India in the second half of this year, and is also making continuous efforts to enter the U.S. market.

bjk@donga.com