KGM'S NEW OWNER SPARKS OPTIMISM ABOUT UK FUTURE

“Pushing tech and design forward” after years of Ssangyong stagnation

- JAMES ATTWOOD

KGM's UK importer believes the Korean brand is set to hugely benefit from investment made by its new owner in recent years - but will target steady and sustainable growth instead of simply chasing sales volume.

KGM, formerly known as Ssangyong Motors, focuses on rugged SUVs and pick-up trucks. In the past decade, it has been owned by the Ssangyong conglomerate, Chinese car maker SAIC and Indian giant Mahindra, but has struggled due to an inconsistent product cycle and a lack of investment. It was bought and rebranded in 2022 by the KG Group, a Korean conglomerate with significant interests in steel and chemicals.

The first signs of fresh investment from KG have now been seen with the arrival of the Actyon SUV, which will be followed by the end of next year by the 0100 electric pick-up (set to inherit the Musso name in the UK), Korando-sized KR10 and bold F100 SUVs.