Ssangyong Motor sales surge 20.7%

Korando C

Ssangyong Motor Co., the local unit of Indian sport utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said Thursday that its sales grew 20.7 percent on-year in 2013 on the strength of consumer demand for new vehicle models.

The carmaker said domestic sales grew to 63,970 units with exports, including knockdown kits, reaching 81,679 vehicles for a combined figure of 145,649 cars sold throughout the year.

“The overall annual figure is the best achieved since 2002 and marks the fourth straight year of growth for the company,” Ssangyong said in a press release after the annual tally was announced in a regulatory filing.

It credited the strong showing to the company’s active steps to launch new vehicle models such as the New Korando C that satisfied consumer requirements.

“In the export market, strong demand from Russia and China fueled the 11.9 percent on-year growth that pushed sales past 80,000 for the first time in the company’s history,” it said. (Yonhap News)