Renault Samsung Motors May Sales 9,552 Units; -8.5% On Year

Sunday 10:04 pm ET

SEOUL June 1, 2003; Dow Jones reporte dthat Renault Samsung Motors Corp.'s May automobile sales fell 8.5% on year to 9,552 units amid sluggish domestic demand, said the car maker in a statement Monday.

Domestic sales fell 9.1% on year to 9,448 units while exports jumped to 104 units from 40 units a year ago, it said.

Renault Samsung saw its sales falling on year in May despite an extension in its product lineup compared with a year ago period. Renault Samsung released its SM3 car in September, that was the company's second model.

Its May auto sales were 5.1% lower than in April, it said.

Renault Samsung, which is a manufacturing unit of France-based car maker Renault , is the smallest of South Korea's five automobile companies.

Among its two models, Renault Samsung sold 6,871 units of the midsize sedan SM5, down 34% on year. Sales of the sub-mid sized car SM3 totaled 2,681 units.