Ssangyong SUVs to hit Indian roads by FY12 end

CHENNAI: Korean automaker Ssangyong will focus on its core business of SUVs as it kicks off product development and network expansion under new parent Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M). According to a top M&M official, Ssangyong will also look at sourcing componentsfrom India, and M&M will roll out its Korean subsidiary's products in India by the end of the financial year.

Speaking to TOI, M&M president (auto & farm equipment division) Pawan Goenka said: "Our priority for Ssangyong right now is product development and expansion of the network. We will focus on SUVs because that's our core business. Ssangyong has a single car – Chairman – in its portfolio and it is not really part of our focus."

Ssangyong will alsosource components from India in a "win-win" arrangement but so far parent M&M has not put a time frame to that. "It's not top priority now but it will happen," said Goenka.

M&M is planning to launch Ssangyong products in the Indian market by the end of this financial year. The Rexton and Korando have been shortlisted for the Indian market but there are no plans to introduce the Chairman. When asked whether M&M will roll out Ssangyong productsin theUS,Goenka refused to comment.

Ssangyong, he said, is on way to overcoming the parts shortage caused by the Japan twin disasters."Although we lost a few hundred numbers due to this in April, it was lesser than March," he said. "By May, Ssangyong should be back to normal numbers."