Renault Samsung September Sales Up

SEOUL, Oct 1 Reuters reported that Renault Samsung Motors Inc, one of South Korea's smallest automakers, said on Tuesday total sales in September hit a new monthly record of 11,448 vehicles, up 41 percent from a year earlier, after it introduced a new model.

France's Renault SA took over the former auto unit of South Korea's Samsung Group in September of 2000 and holds a controlling 70.1 percent stake.

Unlisted Renault Samsung sells only two passenger car models in the domestic market. September sales of the SM5 mid-sized sedan fell to 6,740 units from 8,102 vehicles a year ago, the automaker said. Sales of the SM3 sub-mid-sized passenger car, which hit showrooms in the beginning of September, totaled 4,708 vehicles, the company said.

"Year on year, SM5 sales declined last month, but the new SM3 surpassed our monthly sales target of 3,000 vehicles," Kim Young-joo, a Renault Samsung spokeswoman told Reuters.