Formally, SsangYong appeared in 1954, when the Ha Dong-hwan Motor Company was founded in South Korea. Initially, the company produced army SUVs. Due to the confrontation between the southern and northern parts of the country, the demand for cars was high, and this stimulated the development of the company. Therefore, the production of civilian cars was soon established, which were sold not only to the domestic market, but also for export. For example, already in 1967, Ha Dong-hwan Motor Company began exporting buses to Vietnam.
In 1976, the production of special-purpose vehicles was organized. And in 1977, the company was renamed Dong-A Motor. The development of the company under the new name has become even more intense. In 1979, construction of a plant in the city of Pyongtaek was completed. The company began an active search for new markets. So in 1984, Dong-A Motor began supplying high-speed buses to Libya. Two years later, the company came under the control of Ssangyong Business Group, and in 1988 changed its name to SsangYong Motor. By the way, SsangYong translates as “Two Dragons”. At this stage, it was decided to acquire Geohwa Motors, which specialized in the production of SUVs. It is not surprising that in 1988 the all-wheel drive Korando Family went on sale, which brought the company worldwide fame. By the way, a year earlier, a department for advanced developments was created in Pyongtaek.
SsangYong Family
In the early nineties, a strategic alliance was concluded with Mercedes-Benz AG, the purpose of which was to create small commercial vehicles. This led to the infusion of huge investments into the Korean company. And in 1992, the export of classic Kallista sports cars began.
SsangYong Kallista
And a strategic agreement on cooperation in the development of gasoline engines was signed with Mercedes-Benz AG. A year later, a deal was concluded to sell a 5% stake in SsangYong to Mercedes-Benz AG, after which a plan was drawn up for joint development of large commercial vehicles and diesel engines. In the same year, the first SsangYong Musso was released.
SsangYong Musso
In 1994, a motor plant was opened in Changwon. Since 1995, a logistics center began operating, ensuring the supply of spare parts. The first Istana small commercial vehicles are rolling off the assembly line, a joint project with Mercedes-Benz known as a variation on the MB100 theme.
SsangYong Istana
The following year, the company began producing another car - the New Korando. The car was in demand mainly due to its low price and excellent reliability. Therefore, it was actively exported.
SsangYong Korando
Since 1997, when mass production of passenger cars began, SsangYong has occupied a new niche in the automotive industry. Then the company introduced the SsangYong Chairman - a business class car. It was equipped with a V-shaped six and was based on an extended Mercedes E-Class platform.
SsangYong Chairman
During the economic crisis, SsangYong Motor had to come under the control of the Daewoo group. In 1998, the final merger with Daewoo Group took place. And by 2000, after a successful corporate reorganization, the company regained its independence by separating from Daewoo. After this, SsangYong placed special emphasis on development, research and design. At the same time, management tried to recreate the sales network and warranty programs.
In 2000, the new Chairman CM500 model was introduced to the world. A year later, the Korando model won the Energy Winner 2001 award. At the same time, production of the premium SUV Rexton was launched and production of the SsangYong Musso Sports pickup truck began. SsangYong's revival was illustrated by the opening of its own technical center in China.
Since 2003, production of the New Chairman executive sedan and the New SsangYong Rexton SUV with a diesel engine began.
SsangYong Rexton
The following year, the company began producing the multifunctional 11-seater SsangYong Rodius minivan.
SsangYong Rodius
In Australia and some other countries this car was sold under the name Stavic. At the same time, SsangYong received new investments: more than half of its shares were bought by the Chinese SAIC Motor. 2006 was marked by the debut of two more new models: the Actyon crossover and the Actyon Sports pickup truck.
SsangYong Actyon
SsangYong Actyon Sports
Korando, Musso, and Rexton cars have been supplied to the Russian market since the late 1990s. At the end of 2005, the production of Rexton SUVs began at the ZMA enterprise in Naberezhnye Chelny, owned by the Severstal-auto company (Sollers brand). Starting from the end of 2006, the plant began assembling the SsangYong Kyron, and then the SsangYong Actyon. Currently, the SsangYong Rexton and SsangYong Kyron models have a full production cycle, including welding and body painting.
SsangYong Kyron
Since December 2009, SsangYong models have also been produced in the Far East. The total investment in this project amounted to 5 billion rubles. Since 2010, the South Korean automaker SsangYong Motor has been owned by the Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra.
The SsangYong Kyron SUV was launched in Korea in 2005. The car stood out for its original appearance, created by British designer Kenneth Greenlee.
The car had a frame design, the Chirons for the Korean market had an independent rear suspension and a seven-seat cabin, and the export versions had a continuous rear axle and five seats in the cabin. The drive is all-wheel drive, with a rigidly connected front end and a reduction gear, and in Korea rear-wheel drive modifications were also offered.
The SsangYong Kyron was equipped with licensed Mercedes power units: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel and a 2.7-liter five-cylinder (such cars were not supplied to the Russian market). Transmissions - five-speed, manual or automatic.
In 2007, the model was restyled: the Sanyeng Chiron received a more harmonious design, a slightly modified interior and a 2.3-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 150 hp. With. in combination with a “mechanics” or a four-speed “automatic”. In 2009, a new six-speed automatic transmission began to be installed on some versions of the model.
Since 2006, Chirons for the Russian market have been assembled at the Sollers plant in Naberezhnye Chelny, and at the end of 2009, production was moved to Vladivostok. Prices for an SUV started at 800 thousand rubles (in 2010).
In Korea, the SsangYong Kyron was discontinued in 2011, and the assembly of cars in Vladivostok continued until 2014 (at the end of the assembly line life, a small batch of single-wheel drive cars entered the Russian market). A licensed copy of the model was produced in China under the name.
Sanyeng Chiron car engine table
In 1954, the Korean company Handongwan Motor Company was founded, which in 1984 changed its name to SsangYong Group. The company's first products were cheap buses, which gained enormous popularity in many countries around the world. In 1967, the production of passenger cars began, which allowed Handogwan to make high profits. However, the construction of a new plant and the creation of its own technology center did not affect the development of the company's model range.
However, the new starting point was 1986, when “ SsangYong"acquired the company" Keohwa", which specialized in the production of off-road vehicles. So in 1988 the compact SUV SsangYong Korando, equipped with a 2.9-liter diesel power unit producing 98 horsepower.
Thanks to this model, the Korean company came into the spotlight German concern Daimler, who hastened to enter into a strategic partnership with a promising automaker, which led to the transition " SsangYong» for the use of technologies and production units « Mercedes Benz" The first of these vehicles, the SUV, was introduced in 1993. SsangYong Musso equipped with diesel engines Daimler, with a capacity of 77 and 120 horsepower. In addition, thanks to the German company, there was no longer a need to promote the Korean brand in new automobile markets; dealer networks were used “ Mercedes" And " Daewoo", which significantly increased the production of this model, and " SsangYong“With each subsequent year, I updated my personal record for profit received.
In 1994, a plant for the production of power units was put into operation, where all key management positions were occupied by engineers. Daimler" It was this decision that made it possible to produce a large batch minibuses SsangYong Istana, known in the European automotive market as Mercedes-Benz MB100. In 1996, the second generation of Korando was introduced, which became widespread in the automotive market of the Asian region due to its low price.
Despite the successes, the financial crisis of 1997 hit hard SsangYong» due to the protracted and expensive modernization of the entire production process. As a result, a controlling stake was purchased by one of the largest automakers in South Korea - “ Daewoo", which did not affect further cooperation with the concern " Daimler", who continued to participate in the development of automobiles SsangYong.
In the same year, the brand's first and only non-off-road vehicle was introduced, called Chairman. Under the hood is a six-cylinder power unit from Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and a slightly updated chassis was chosen as the platform Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
In 2000, due to the difficult situation of Daewoo, all shares SsangYong"were bought out by its management, which allowed the automaker to gain independence. In the same year, all current models of the brand were updated, and a year later the new flagship car of the brand was presented - full-size SUV SsangYong Rexton, built on the basis Mercedes-Benz ML-Class. Under the hood is a 3.5 liter petrol power unit from " Daimler ».
In 2002, it was decided to open a technology center " SsangYong" in China, which led to the release SsangYong Musso Sports- frame pickup. And next year, the company’s two top models underwent a slight restyling. Chairman And Rexton, which received a new design from the famous company " ItalDesign" At the end of 2005, the production of Rexton SUVs began at the ZMA enterprise in Naberezhnye Chelny, owned by the Severstal-auto company (Sollers brand). Starting from the end of 2006, the plant began assembling the Ssang Yong Kyron, and then the Ssang Yong Actyon. In 2006, a large Chinese conglomerate SAIC» bought a 49% stake in the Korean automaker, which led to the release of the brand’s first crossover SsangYong Actyon.
However, serious miscalculations in the company’s development strategy led to the fact that in 2008 “ SsangYong» began bankruptcy proceedings, which led to the closure of the brand’s factories until 2009.
From December 2009 models SsangYong are also produced in the Far East. The total investment in this project amounted to 5 billion rubles. Since 2010, the South Korean automaker SsangYong Motor has been owned by the Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra.
In 2010 Daimler concern, through an Indian company " Mahindra" bought back 70% of the shares " SsangYong" Such a lengthy procedure was caused by the fact that the South Korean government prevented the direct sale of the company, fearing foreign expansion into the country's automobile industry. However, after a long lull, a solution was found. Production was resumed and the engineers of the Korean brand began working on new models, while at the same time completely updating the current model range in 2011.
Also in 2010, Korando appeared on the market, a compact Korean crossover with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, known on the Russian market under the name New Actyon. The European premiere of the crossover took place in 2010 at the Moscow Motor Show.
Korando became the first SUV that SsangYong equipped with a monocoque body. The legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro had a hand in the design of the car. As a result, the Korando's appearance has become more European, sporting two interior color schemes and seven exterior color options.
In 2014, in Russia, according to the Association of European Businesses, 25,010 SsangYong cars were sold (-27% compared to 2013), of which about 20,000 units. were released in Russia.
In March 2015, SsangYong suspended the export of finished cars to Russia, as well as vehicle kits assembled in the Russian Far East, under the pretext of the instability of the ruble exchange rate and the market situation. The Vladivostok plant continues to assemble from previously supplied kits.
South Korean manufacturer, mainly engaged in off-road vehicles. The history of the brand began in 1954, with the founding of the company in Seoul (where its headquarters is still located to this day). Ha Dong-hwan Motor Workshop. She created classic Jeep SUVs and trucks for American soldiers. Only a year had passed since the end of the Korean War, there were plenty of American troops in South Korea and there was a great need for such cars.
As you know, companies thrive on military orders. This happened with Hadonghwan. Over time, the range of products was expanded to include civilian equipment. In 1963, as a result of a merger with Dongbang Motor Co., Ltd.(founded in 1962), it changes its name to Ha Dong-hwan Motor Co., Ltd,
The company is growing rapidly. The range of products is gradually expanding - fire trucks, buses and much more are appearing. In 1977, it changed its name again. This time on Donga Motor Co., Ltd. Attempts to enter the international market are beginning to be made. Products for export at that time were buses.
In 1983 there was a takeover Geohwa Motors, which was engaged in the production of SUVs under the brand Korando. It was with the acquisition of this brand that a new stage in history began. SsangYong. The company begins active development in the direction of creating off-road vehicles and increased comfort. New model introduced in 1986 Korando, on which we managed to “enter” the SUV market. The Japanese market took the first “blow”, and two years later exports to European markets began.
In 1987, a British company was acquired PANTHER CAR Co., UK, which produced sports cars Kallista, which eventually became known as SsangYong Kallista. They were produced until 1993. A total of 78 pieces were produced.
In 1988, the company once again changed its name, this time to SsangYong Motor Co., Ltd.. "SsangYong" can be translated from Korean as "double dragon" so or "two dragons".
A few years later an agreement was reached with Mercedes, as a result of which the products SsangYong got the opportunity to use the technologies of the German manufacturer.
The year 1997 was marked by the appearance of the first passenger car of the Korean company - an exclusive Chairman, which is based on the Mercedes E-Class. However, that’s where it all ended; it was not possible to expand the model range of “passenger cars”. One of the reasons for this was the crisis that broke out in Korea at the end of 1997. The result of the crisis is fat entry SsangYong with composition Daewoo Motors. However, not for long - in 2000 the company regained its independence, since it was now Daewoo was experiencing serious problems.
The renaissance that began in 2001 did not last too long - in 2004 SsangYong falls under the influence again. This time from a Chinese corporation SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation). Which successfully brought him to bankruptcy in 2008. By the way, the matter was quite murky - according to many, SAIC specifically did this due to difficult relations with Korean trade unions, which demanded improved working conditions and accused the Chinese of stealing technology. After all, other brands SAIC felt great, and the corporation itself even negotiated with Ford Motors about the acquisition of a brand Volvo. However, be that as it may, but in the end SAIC almost completely lost control of SsangYong, remaining with only 10% of the shares. And the Korean company received independence through the court and the opportunity to restructure production.
