Renault Samsung plans six cars

XM3 show car

Renault Samsung Motors said Friday that it will introduce six new cars to the local market next year.

The first model to be introduced will likely be the XM3 crossover.

While there have been uncertainties about the carmaker’s future business in Korea, especially as it struggles to secure orders for production at its Busan factory, the message gives some hope to its workers.

Renault Samsung CEO Dominique Signora encouraged employees to make a turnaround in the business with six new models to be released in the market next year, which will the 20th anniversary of the Korean unit of French automaker Renault, in an internal message sent out Friday.

According to Signora, the company plans to release the second-generation Captur SUV, which is the fully changed model of the QM3 SUV, and electric car ZOE in the first half of next year, after releasing the XM3. Signora also said that the company’s preparing to launch upgraded versions of the SM6 sedan, QM6 SUV and Renault Master van.

“With the new lineup, we are expecting to sell some 100,000 cars in the domestic market in 2020,” the company said in statement.

Signora said the company is pushing to have new cars allocated for production at the Busan factory as a deal to manufacture Nissan’s Rogue SUV there is likely to end this year. Renault Samsung has been hoping to produce XM3s for the European market in Busan.

Signora asked for the union’s support to help the company secure production of XM3s for the Europe market.

BY KIM JEE-HEE [kim.jeehee@joongang.co.kr]