SsangYong sales jump up after SUVs get connected

Industry

Published: 30 Aug. 2020, 16:09

SsangYong sales jump up after SUVs get connected

SsangYong Motor's Korando SUV can be accessed remotely through a mobile app. [SSANGYONG MOTOR]

SsangYong Motor’s connected system dubbed Infoconn is helping the carmaker win over tech-savvy Korean customers.

The Korean unit of Mahindra & Mahindra said sales of its flagship SUV models — Korando and Tivoli — noticeably jumped up after it launched the Infoconn system back in April.

Infoconn, a portmanteau of infotainment and connected, connects SsangYong Motor vehicles to the internet, specifically the LTE network provided by LG U+, to offer various in-car entertainment and safety features. It also includes Naver’s artificial intelligence (AI) service Clova.

The service includes remote monitoring of the car, safety and security as well as assistance. Safety features enable the car to automatically connect to the Infoconn consulting center if there is an accident and the air bags are activated. SsangYong says the service is provided for free for 10 years. Other services are mostly available cost-free for two years.

SsangYong Motor's new connected car system dubbed Infoconn was launched in April in partnership with LG U+ and Naver's artificial intelligence (AI) platform Clova. [SSANGYONG MOTOR]

Sales of the midsize Korando SUV increased by 48 percent in the last three months compared to before the launch of Infoconn, according to the carmaker. In June, it sold 2,517 units, the highest figure since the latest version of the Korando launched in Korea in March 2019. The compact Tivoli SUV also sold 25 percent more between May and July compared to the February to April period.

SsangYong Motor expects the new system to appeal to more customers in the future as the connected car market is showing solid growth.

According to global consulting firm Business Insider Intelligence and research institution Statista, the connected car market in Korea is projected to grow by an average of 34.6 percent annually to reach $2.3 billion in 2020.

“Making a vehicle more eco-friendly and smarter is no longer an option but a must in the auto industry,” said SsangYong Motor official.

“SsangYong Motor plans to find new growth engine in not only connected car services, but also in electric and self-driving cars.”