Ssangyong to form JV for manufacturing base in China

New Delhi: Mahindra Group's South Korean arm Ssangyong Motor Co is forming a joint venture with China's Shaanxi Automobile Group to set up a manufacturing plant in the world's largest automobile market.

Ssangyong Motor Co, which was acquired by Mahindra & Mahindra in 2011, has signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the China's Shaanxi Automobile Group for a joint venture that will establish local production plant for CBU vehicles as parts of its efforts to grow in China.

The proposed plant with an installed capacity of 3 lakh units annually in China will also be the first manufacturing unit of the company outside South Korea.

"It is essential to have a local CBU plant in China to increase our competitiveness in the rapidly growing Chinese car market and to increase our sales volumes," Ssangyong Motor CEO Choi Johng-sik said.

According to a regulatory filing by M&M, the proposed 50:50 JV will serve as a new growth engine for Ssangyong as the company continues its efforts to become a strong SUV manufacturer.

The first phase of construction will establish a plant with an annual capacity of 1.5 lakh units per year by the end of 2019 and the second phase will involve an expansion of the facilities to 3 lakh units annually.

"Furthermore, Ssangyong will establish an automotive cluster with its major suppliers that will also enter the market, to ensure product competitiveness and start the production of Ssangyong's current models and models under development in the second half of 2019," it said.

With the signing of the LOI, Ssangyong and Shaanxi Automobile will form a team to work on the Xi'an project and discuss the details for the establishment of a joint venture.

Next steps will also involve obtaining regulatory approvals, the company said.

Established in 1968, Shaanxi Automobile Group manufactures trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles and pick ups among others.