SsangYong Motors is preparing lineup of American strategic models in order to enter American market because it believes that it is difficult to succeed in American market with current lineup. It has decided to start selling these models in 2020 when it is going to start selling its electric vehicles.
According to industries on the 21st, SsangYong Motors recently started established a roadmap that has developing new cars such as SUV, pickup truck, and electric vehicle by 2020 and entering American market as the main point and started developing strategic models that fit American market.
SsangYong Motors is going to make up entire lineup with just SUVs and pickup trucks. 17.5 million cars are currently sold yearly in American market and about 60% of these cars were SUVs last year. RVs are leading the markets as pickup trucks such as Ford F series (820,000), Chevrolet Silverado (570,000), and RAM (490,000) placed top 3 spots in sales last year in American market.
SsangYong Motors is also planning to release Tivoli and G4 Rexton, which are currently its major models, as well as new models such as its pickup truck called ‘Q200’ and compact SUV ‘C300’ that are expected to be released in 2018 and 2019 respectively in American market. It seems that Q200 will have high competitive edge in markets for pickup trucks that are currently divided between American and Japanese brand. Q200 shares a same platform as G4 Rexton and is applied with same frame body and 1.5GPa giga-steel.
SsangYong Motors recently finished developing 2.0 lean-burn turbo GDI engine. This engine is applied with variety of new engine technologies and back-processing system and increases efficiency and minimizes emission of pollutant. It reduces amount of emission of CO2 by 20% compared to SsangYong Motors’ 3.2-liter gasoline engine and exhibits maximum output of 225 horsepower and maximum torque of 35.7kgm. SsangYong Motors is planning to install this engine into all of its mid-sized and large SUVs and pickup trucks.
SsangYong Motors is also planning to release its electric vehicle which will be developed by 2019. It is currently developing B-segment electric SUV that can drive more than 300km with just single charge. Although it was initially developing this electric vehicle as EVR (Electric Vehicle with a Range extender) but it recently changed direction of development towards pure electric vehicle. SsangYong Motors is currently developing next-generation electric vehicles by working with Mahindra Group from India. Mahindra has high technical skills in electric vehicle as it participated in ‘Formula E’ which is a racing competition for electric vehicles.
Biggest reason why SsangYong Motors is releasing its electric vehicles in American market is to adjust to environment regulations. According to regulations proclaimed by United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), average mileage per gallon and actual mileage per gallon of cars that are sold in the U.S. have to be 54.5 miles and 40 miles by 2025. Amount of emission of CO2 also has to be lower than 113g/km by 2020. It is going to be about 23% lower than current level at 147g/km.
“We have been systematically preparing long time in order to enter American automotive market and we have not yet decided on when we are going to enter American market.” said a representative for SsangYong Motors. “It has become easier to prepare fund to develop new cars and technologies as new cars have become successful recently in American market and we are going to enter American market with cars with new technologies.”
Staff Reporter Ryu, Jongeun | rje312@etnews.com