Pandemic pulls down Renault Samsung's Sept. sales by half

Renault Samsung Motors Corp. sold 7,386 vehicles in September, down 51.4 percent from the 15,208 units in the same month a year ago, due to the pandemic's impact on the automobile industry.

Domestic sales by the South Korean unit of Renault S.A. dropped 24.1 percent to 5,934 units last month from 7,817 units in September last year, while exports its nose-dived 80.4 percent to 1,452 from 7,391 over the said period.

For the first nine months of the year, Renault Samsung's sales dropped less at 29.5 percent to 91,544 units from 129,913 in the same period last year.

Renault Samsung's lineup consists of the XM3 SUV and the QM6 SUV, all-electric SM3 Z.E. sedan, and the SM6 sedan.

The company announced two weeks ago that it would manufacture the XM3 small SUV for the European market and other global markets next year, which is crucial for its sustainability.

Renault Samsung produces the vehicle at its Busan plant.

The company will target France, the UK, Spain, Italy, and Germany for sales of the new car, and will later expand to Japan, Australia, and Chile.

For those markets, the XM3 will be available in hybrid and 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline models and will be named as the new Arkana.

The new Arkana will be different from the Arkana, available only in Russia, in terms of platform, engine, and multimedia systems.

Renault Samsung is facing serious sustainability questions as to its contract to manufacture the Nissan Rogue for export ended in March.

Renault holds an 81 percent stake in Renault Samsung.