Busan is good

Renault Samsung aims high in 2006

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Renault Samsung Motors Corp. unveiled yesterday its business plans for 2006, saying it would take on 1,000 new recruits as part of its big push into the export market.

In a report, Renault Samsung said that with the first exports of its New Generation SM3, it is aiming to increase overall auto sales by 26 percent to over 150,000 units.

The company is hoping to ship 30,000 units of the new model, to be made under the Nissan brand, to markets in South America, the Middle East and Russia.

In his first public appearance since becoming the company's chief executive, Jean-Marie Hurtiger said that Renault Samsung's push into the Asia and Pacific markets makes it an increasingly important part of the Renault-Nissan group. "We have to be the best performer in the region," Mr. Hurtiger said at Seoul's Hyatt Hotel yesterday.

The new chief executive replaced Jerome Stoll, who had been in charge of the company since September 2000, when Renault SA, France's second-largest automaker, purchased the beleaguered automobile unit of Samsung Group.

Also speaking at the Hyatt Hotel, Mr. Stoll said, "We do have about 500 engineers today. Renault, however, expects more, and we are still low on engineers."

Mr. Stoll also unveiled details of the company's new sport utility vehicle, to launch in 2007.

"The vehicle will use the Nissan's X-Trail platform while the body design and detail will be developed jointly by Renault and Renault Samsung," Mr. Stoll said.

Renault Samsung said to achieve its goals for this year, it would soon start a big recruitment drive and add a second shift at its Busan plant in March.

The automaker said its sales in 2005 increased by 39.9 percent to 119,035 units worth 2.2 trillion won ($2.3 billion). The company said its annual sales have risen every year since 2002.

The source of news : JoonAng Daily, February 17, 2006