Renault launches its first Geely-based model in Korea
- Renault and Geely have become partners, notably in the development of thermal and hybrid engines (through the JV Horse), and in Renault Korea, the new name of Renault-Samsung (Renault having bought Samsung Motors in 2000). The Chinese carmaker Geely now owns 34% of Renault Korea (of which Renault previously owned 100%) which produces the Renault Arkana (67,540 units in 2023) and their Korean counterparts XM3 (38,142 units in 2023), as well as the Renault QM6 (20,474 units in 2023) which are the Korean counterparts of the old Renault Koléos whose sales were stopped in Europe last year. All the sedans which had retained their names from Samsung Motors (SM3, SM5, SM6, SM7) have disappeared.
- The important event of 2024 is the launch last June of the new Renault Grand Koléos, which abandons the XM designations but above all comes directly from the Geely range, since it is the slightly modified Monjaro SUV. This is the first time that a Renault model has come from the Geely range, but according to our information, this new model will not be exported to Europe but only marketed in South Korea and neighboring countries.
- The Renault Grand Koléos is 4.78 m length, exceeding the old Koléos by 11 cm, which places it in the E-segment and no longer in the D-segment like the old Koléos. Renault believes that moving upmarket is the best strategy for the development of Renault Korea, with a factory operating at less than 50% of its capacity. The Grand Koléos is equipped with a 2.0 turbo petrol engine of 211 hp (155 kW) or a hybrid engine of 245 hp (180 kW) which combines a 1.5 turbo four-cylinder of 144 hp (106 kW) and two motors electrical. These engines come from the cooperation of Renault and Geely in Horse.