SM6 celebrates successful second year sales

Renault Samsung's SM6

By Nam Hyun-woo

Renault Samsung's mid-sized SM6 sedan is enjoying steady sales even two years after its launch in 2016.

The carmaker said it has now released the 2019 SM6 after making a number of improvements to the steady seller, while minimizing cost hike increases to offer customers a cost-efficient family car

According to Renault Samsung, it sold 39,389 SM6s in 2017, down 31.5 percent from a whopping 57,478 in 2016 when the SM6 was the best-selling new car on the Korean market.

In 2017, the domestic automobile market faced headwinds including declining demand and an economic downturn, so not only Renault Samsung but also other carmakers saw drops in their sales.

However, the SM6 still retains a greater number of cars registered for private use among other mid-sized sedans and its higher priced models still shows brisk sales, the company said. Also, it shipped 9,038 SM6s overseas in 2017, an eight-fold increase from 2016.

The SM6 was named the safest car in 2016 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In 2017, a domestic car journalists' association nominated the SM6 as the best car and the best design of the year. Consumer Insight, a domestic market research agency, also gave the best score to the SM6 that year.

The carmaker said the SM6's diesel model is also showing steady sales. The SM6 dCi accounted for 56 percent of new domestic mid-sized vehicles as soon as it was rolled out.

In January last year, Renault Samsung sold 898 SM6 dCis, raising its market share to 78 percent.

“The diesel sedan market represented domestic customers' demand for affordable but noticeable cars, and the SM6 dCi responded well to this demand,” a Renault Samsung official said. The model's fuel efficiency is 17 kilometers per liter -- with 16- and 17-inch tires -- thanks to its engine that adopted technologies from Renault's experience in the development of an engine for Formula 1 cars.

The SM6 is enjoying robust sales overseas. Sold as the Talisman in the European market, it is manufactured at factories in Douai, France, and Busan. In 2015, 34,344 Talismans were sold.

For its 2019 SM6, Renault Samsung made several updates across all models, including anti-ultraviolet ray windshields and design changes to the headrest of the front seats. Also, it added a new color “Bordeaux Red” to its lineup and new 18-inch wheels.

While making those updates, it contained price increases as low as 100,000 won, to provide more affordable prices for domestic motorists, the company said.