Renault Korea's new Renault Grand Coleos has been making waves in the mid-sized SUV segment, selling an average of 6,000 units per month since its launch last September. In response to this high demand, Renault Korea has decided to increase production of the Grand Coleos.
According to industry sources on the 26th, Renault Korea will increase production of the Grand Coleos at its Busan plant next month compared to this month (February). Production was suspended last month due to the shutdown of the Busan plant for electric vehicle construction, and the number of operating days at the plant was lower than the monthly average this month. However, the plant is expected to be in full operation from March.
This move is not unrelated to the popularity of the Grand Coleos. Due to the Grand Coleos's domestic market success, Renault Korea's Busan plant operated overtime on weekdays and special shifts on weekends for a month in December last year to produce additional hybrid models.
According to the company, the Grand Coleos sold 1,912 units in September, 4,404 units in October, and sales increased significantly in November (6,582 units) and December (6,122 units) since its launch. In particular, in December of last year, it nearly caught up with Hyundai's mid-sized SUV Santa Fe (6,249 units), gaining momentum.
However, sales in the previous month (January) were only 2,040 units due to the suspension of the Busan plant. Renault Korea temporarily suspended operation of the Busan plant for one month in January to build electric vehicle production facilities. With the completion of the mixed-line production line construction and final inspection on the 7th of this month, Grand Coleos production has resumed.
The Grand Coleos's sales performance was driven by hybrid models. They accounted for 95% of the Grand Coleos sold last year. The Grand Coleos hybrid has been attracting attention with its best-in-class system output of 245 horsepower and official combined fuel economy of 15.7 km/ℓ.
The Grand Coleos is a new car released by Renault Korea in four years. Renault Korea, which has been struggling in the domestic market due to the lack of new cars, plans to actively target the domestic market by producing new cars prepared so far at the Busan plant, using the Grand Coleos as a stepping stone. The results of the 'Aurora Project' led by Renault Korea CEO Stephen Debreeze are being unveiled one by one.
Renault Korea will invest a total of 1.5 trillion won in the Aurora Project by 2027. First of all, the Aurora 2, a semi-large coupe-style crossover utility vehicle (CUV), which is known to be sold next year, is waiting. Development of the all-electric SUV 'Aurora 3', which is aimed for release in 2027, has also begun. This year, Renault Group's electric vehicle, Scenic E-Tech Electric, will be imported and sold.
Meanwhile, visits by Renault Group executives and senior officials have also become more frequent. Thierry Shabet, Renault Group's vice president in charge of production and quality, met with Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon on this day to discuss the local auto industry strategy. At this meeting, Mayor Park requested that the Aurora 3 project be carried out without a hitch. Maria Castillo Fernandez, the EU ambassador to Korea, visited the Busan plant on the 19th to listen to major issues and tour the facilities. The company also delivered the Grand Coleos hybrid as an official vehicle for Ambassador Fernandez to use.
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