South Korean carmaker SsangYong Motor’s revamp of its Rexton Sports series appears to have been a success with a boost in sales of the model.
To avoid the public’s stereotypical bulky perception of pickup trucks, the company introduced the series under a new category called “open top sport utility vehicles.” This strategy seems to have worked: As of May this year, the company sold 18,502 units, 22 percent more than the same period last year.
The popular model retains the advantages that pickup trucks have, such as a large deck and high performance in off-road driving.
“As the Rexton Sports is currently the leader in the market, we will do our best to expand even more,” SsangYong Motor official said in a statement.
Another reason for its popularity is its economic efficiency. According to the company, the new series of cars has an Adventure Model subcategory, which is a cost efficient model with a maximum 181-horsepower engine and fuel efficiency of 9.8 km per liter, posted the highest sales.
At 25 million won ($22,000) the Rexton Sports has an edge in price over its competitors like Japanese carmaker Toyota’s Jeep, which costs around 35 million won.
The company says it also sold 653 Rexton Sports Khans in the first five months of the year.
The Rexton Sports Khan has a larger deck than other Rexton Sports models. It can carry up to 700kg in the back, which makes it possible to load heavy camping utilities like tents. The model also has different modes to help drive more safely harsh rainy or snowy weather.
By Song Seung-hyun (ssh@heraldcorp.com)