SsangYong

SsangYong Motor Company (Korean: 쌍용자동차, IPA: [s͈aŋjoŋ dʑadoŋtɕʰa]) (meaning Double Dragons Motor Vehicles) is the fourth largest South Korean-based automobile manufacturer. It is a subsidiary of Indian multinational Mahindra & Mahindra.[3]

A 70% share of SsangYong was acquired by Mahindra & Mahindra Limited in February 2011,[4] after being named the preferred bidder in 2010 to acquire the bankruptcy-protected company.[5] Mahindra’s acquisition was approved by South Korea’s Free Trade Commission

History

SsangYong originally started out as two separate companies; Ha Dong-hwan Motor Workshop (established in 1954) and Dongbang Motor Co (established in 1962). In mid-1963, the two companies merged into Ha Dong-hwan Motor Co.[7][8]

In 1964, Hadonghwan Motor Company started building jeeps for the US Army as well as trucks and buses. Beginning in 1976, Hadonghwan produced a variety of special purpose vehicles. After changing its name to Dong-A Motor in 1977 and taking control of Keohwa Motors in 1984, it was taken over by SsangYong Business Group in 1986[9][10] and changed its name to SsangYong Motor.[11] In 1987, it acquired United Kingdom-based specialty car maker Panther Westwinds.[11]

In 1991, SsangYong started a technology partnership with Daimler-Benz. The deal was for SsangYong to develop an SUV with Mercedes-Benz technology. This was supposedly to allow SsangYong to gain footholds in new markets without having to build their own infrastructure (utilizing existing Mercedes-Benz networks) while giving Mercedes a competitor in the then-booming SUV market.[12] This resulted in the Musso, which was sold first by Mercedes-Benz and later by SsangYong.[13]

SsangYong further benefited from this alliance, long after Daimler-Benz stopped selling the Musso, producing a badge engineered version of the Mercedes-Benz MB100, the Istana and using Daimler designs in many other models, including the second-generation Korando (engine and transmission), the Rexton (transmission),[14] the Chairman H (chassis and transmission)[15] and the Kyron (transmission).[16]

In 1997, Daewoo Motors, now Tata Daewoo, bought a controlling stake from the SsangYong Group, only to sell it off again in 2000, because the conglomerate ran into deep financial troubles. In late 2004, the Chinese automobile manufacturer SAIC took a 51% stake of SsangYong Motor Company.

Wikinews has related news: South Korean police battle striking workers

SsangYong’s hybrid technology.
In January 2009, after recording a $75.42 million loss, the company was put into receivership. This may have been due to the global economic crisis and shrinking demand.[17] On August 14, 2009, worker strikes finished at the SsangYong factory and production commenced again after 77 days of disruption.[18] Company employees and analysts have also blamed SAIC for stealing technology related to hybrid vehicles from the company and failing to live up to its promise of continued investment.[19][20] SAIC denied allegations of technology theft by the company’s employees.[21] However, SAIC was charged by the South Korean prosecutor’s office for violating company regulations and the South Korean law when it ordered and carried out the transfer of SsangYong’s proprietary technology developed with South Korean government funding over to SAIC researchers.[22]

In 2010, Daewoo Motor Sales was dropped by General Motors. The long-time dealership partner then signed a deal with the SsangYong Motor Company to supply new vehicles to sell (specifically the Rodius, Chairman W and Chairman H), in return for the injection of ₩20,000,000,000 ($17.6 million) into the car maker still recovering from bankruptcy. The deal is non-exclusive, meaning SsangYong will also sell vehicles through private dealers.[23]

In April 2010, the company released a statement citing interest of three to four local and foreign companies in acquiring SsangYong Motor Company, resulting in shares rising by 15%.[24] The companies were later revealed to be Mahindra & Mahindra and the Ruia Group of India and SM Aluminum, Seoul Investments and French-owned Renault Samsung Motors of South Korea.[25][26] In August 2010, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited was chosen as the preferred bidder for SsangYong.[27] The acquisition was completed in February 2011[4][28] and cost Mahindra 522.5 billion Won.[29]

Factories

South Korea (Pyeongtaek). Main factory. Produces a complete range.
Russia (Vladivostok). Russian company Sollers JSC manufactured SsangYong Korando as New Actyon, Kyron, Rexton II, Actyon Sports and its upgraded version SUT1.
Ukraine (Kremenchuk). Kremenchuk Сar Assembly Plant (KrASZ) manufactured Korando, Kyron, Rexton II.
Kazakhstan (Kostanai). SaryarkaAutoProm (SAP) CKD manufacturing of SsangYong Nomad (former – SsangYong Actyon), SKD assembly of New Actyon (Korando), Rexton W, Actyon Sports.

Current model lineup

Name	Production	Notes
SUVs
Tivoli	2015–present	SsangYong’s first new model under Mahindra & Mahindra ownership^[30]
Actyon	2006–present	Replaced the old Korando
Rexton W	2012–present	Replaced the Rexton II
Korando	1983–2006, 2010–present	Replaced by the Actyon, revived in late 2010
Pickup trucks
Actyon Sports	2006–present	Replaced the Musso Sports; also known as Korando Sports from 2012
Vans
Rodius/Stavic	2004–present
Luxury cars
Chairman W	2008–present	Was sold alongside the Chairman H
Trucks and Buses
DA Truck		Based on Nissan Diesel Truck
SY Truck		Based on Mercedes-Benz trucks
Transtar		Based on Mercedes-Benz buses

Former model lineup

Name	Production	Notes
SUVs
Kyron	2005–2014	SsangYong’s first model under SAIC ownership
Rexton II	2006–2012	Replaced the Rexton
Musso	1993–2005	Replaced by the Kyron
Rexton	2001–2005	Replaced the Musso and succeeded by the Rexton II
Korando Family	1988–1995	Based on the Isuzu Trooper
Pickup trucks
Musso Sports	2002–2005	Replaced by the Actyon Sports
Vans
Istana	1995–2003	Licensed copy of the Mercedes-Benz MB100
Luxury cars
Chairman H	1997–2014	Based on the Mercedes-Benz W124
Kallista	1992	Rebadged Panther Kallista