SsangYong Motor Company

SsangYong Motor Company (hangul:쌍용자동차) is the fourth largest South Korean automobile manufacturer.[1] It was founded as Hadonghwan Motor Company in 1954 and started by building jeeps for the US Army. Beginning in 1976, Hadonghwan produced a variety of special purpose vehicles. After changing its name to Dong-A Motor in 1977, it was taken over by Ssangyong Business Group in 1988 and changed its name to SsangYong Motor. The name SsangYong means twin dragons. In 1991 it started a technology partnership with Daimler-Benz (now DaimlerChrysler). Later, it purchased United Kingdom-based specialty car maker Panther Westwinds.

In 1997 Daewoo Motors bought a controlling stake, only to sell it off again in 2000, because the conglomerate ran into deep financial troubles. In late 2004, the Chinese automobile manufacturer SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) took a 49% stake of SsangYong Motor Company.

Model lineup

Passenger cars and SUVs

• Actyon
• Actyon Sports
• Chairman
• Istana (based on the Mercedes-Benz MB100)
• Korando
• Kyron
• Musso
• Musso Sports
• Rexton
• Rodius/Stavic

Commercial vehicles

• SY Truck
• Transstar

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of Korean car makers
• Economy of South Korea

External links

• SsangYong Motor Company Korean Homepage
• SsangYong Motor Company English Homepage
• SsangYong 4WD Club of Australia Website and Active forum
• Ssangyong Owners Club Worldwide membership Forum and Technical sections
• Dutch Ssangyong Korando Owners Club Homepage, Forum and Technical sections