Ssangyong Sales up for Fourth Consecutive Month

FLEET, UNITED KINGDOM – August 6, 2009: For the fourth month in succession, SsangYong has outperformed the UK car market in July with a sales increase over the same month last year of 167.57 per cent.

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 99 SsangYong passenger cars were registered in July, against 37 in the same month last year. The UK car market showed only a slight increase of 2.43 per cent last month.

The £2,000 scrappage incentive scheme is widely credited with the upturn in the July market, but this has largely benefited the smaller car sectors. Of the 99 SsangYong registrations last month, only onewas the result of a scrappage deal.

Paul Williams, managing director of SsangYong distributor Koelliker UK, said: Our volumes are still low, but we have made steady progress this year with the last four months being very positive. Our retail sales have been especially strong with no reliance on scrappage deals. Our dealers have worked hard for these results.”

Over the first seven months of the year, SsangYong registrations are now 0.65 per cent up on the same period last year – one of only six makes showing an increase in a market still showing an overall decline of nearly 23 per cent.

While SsangYong has seen minimal benefit from the scrappage scheme, the South Korean company’s new, permanent five year/250,000 mile warranty and five years’ free servicing offer has been a much bigger hit with customers. SsangYong is also currently offering five year’s 0% finance on selected Kyron 2.7 SPR, Rexton 2.7 SPR and Rodius 270 S models, meaning a monthly payment as low as £125.

Good News From Korea
The latest reports from South Korea today indicate that the prolonged industrial dispute at the SsangYong plant is coming to an end. SsangYong and the union have agreed to further talks to finally end the dispute and the plant is now under full SsangYong control.

The dispute has centred on plans to reduce the work force as part of SsangYong’s plans to restructure and revitalise the company. Production has been considerably disrupted but SsangYong is now working to normalize the situation as quickly as possible.

The company is under court receivership (very similar to US Chapter 11) and must submit its full plans to the South Korean court by September 15.