The fourth largest car manufacturer in South Korea after Hyundai, Kia and Renault Korea Motors (formerly Renault-Samsung Motors), soldier SsangYong is in trouble for several years. Bouncing from buyer to buyer, it was sold in 2011 by China’s SAIC to India’s Mahindra&Mahindra group, where it came close to bankruptcy despite several successful launches such as the Tivoli SUV (2015) and the XLV (2016). It owes its salvation to the Korean conglomerate KG Mobility, a specialist in chemicals and metals, which acquired it in 2022 with the aim of to wipe his board and get him back on the road to success. For this, there is no question of reusing the name, which is synonymous with failure. His admiration for the KG group meant starting with a clean slate and accepting new name: KG Mobility.

Change your name to forget the past

That said, last summer’s release of the Torres was a surprise as it still carried the SsangYong name and the signature dragon wing emblem. Do not worry, SsangYong or not Torres is truly a model of renewal. It is a large family SUV with a massive look and finally a modern and bold style. The move to the high level that the brand wants seems to be successful, as this model raises a lot of hopes if its EVX electric derivative, introduced a few months later, is to be believed. This name and date story was only delayed anyway, as it is now official: SsangYong will cede to KGM in name and official signage from the manufacturer next spring!

Finally have the means to break into France?

The first model released under KGM will be the EVX, about which we already know almost everything. However, its officially approved autonomy has been revised upwards: 462 km according to WLTP. Fair value for the category, provided the manufacturer isn’t too greedy with pricing, which we don’t know yet. The formalization of the KGM name is accompanied by a new website, which is now available. The range remains the same and will always rotate Rexton, Musso and Grand Musso, Korando and e-Korando, Torres and finally Tivoli and Grand Tivoli.

The latter two also get a new look and a new sporty Blackline finish via the configurator. A sign of an imminent facelift? May be. But for now, our Belgian neighbors are winning: the brand is no longer distributed in France for several yearsbut we are confident that this new beginning and this massive product plan will help him return to France…

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