Global Sales Record

The Ssangyong Tivoli.
The Ssangyong Tivoli.

 

Despite reduced shipments to main overseas markets due to the unstable exchange rate, Ssangyong Motors surpassed the 140,000 unit mark in sales for two consecutive years. This trend was driven by increased domestic sales in the growing SUV market, even with a small drop of 3.2 percent over the previous year.

The company posted the largest domestic sales growth among automakers in 2013 and achieved its best-ever sales since 2005 (73,543 units). It has shown a continuous sales uptrend for five consecutive years, with a total of 69,036 vehicles sold in 2014.

But it wasn't all smiles overseas. Ssangyong’s exports declined by 11.8 percent year-on-year despite working to diversify its export markets. The company blamed the prolonged Ukraine crisis and the Russian ruble crisis affected by falling oil prices.

However, its exports to the Chinese and European markets increased by 93.4 percent and 29.9 percent, respectively, so the export decline to Russia didn't hurt so very much.

In December 2014, its sales recovered to the 12,000 unit level, with a total of 12,980 vehicles sold, including domestic sales of 8,261 units and exports of 4,719 units. This is a level not seen since 2005.

A Ssangyong representative said that it will consolidate its position as a prestige SUV maker in both the domestic and foreign SUV markets, which have grown continuously by carrying out the differentiated marketing programs focused on the strengths of Ssangyong vehicles.

Lee Yoo-il, CEO of Ssangyong Motor, commented, “It is very meaningful that our domestic sales have maintained an uptrend for five consecutive years, even though we didn’t launch a new model,” adding, “We will expand our global sales by responding to increased demand for SUVs with the launch of the Tivoli.”

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