2023.09.01
Renault Korea adds features, cuts prices to end sales slump
BY SARAH CHEA, Korea
JoongAng Daily - Renault Korea Motors is aiming to end its long sales slump
using its vehicles with upgraded features and lower price tags.
The automaker said
Thursday it will introduce an updated R: Xperience program in September, which
offers a series of enhanced lineups that will be offered with discounts of up
to 2 million won ($1,500) to maximize customer satisfaction.
The XM3 will be
upgraded with the latest features like a 360-degree monitor and micro dust
filter. An XM3 1.6 GTe Inspire model will be newly launched at 26.8 million
won.
The QM6 LE, which
comes with an LPG engine, will be sold at 28.4 million won, down 910,000 won
from the initial price. The price of the QM6 RE will be cut by 1.95 million won
to 31.7 million won.
The van-type QM6
Quest will be sold at 24.95 million won, down by 1.85 million won.
An LED Door Spot
Lamp will be added to all Renault models, which helps illuminate the
surroundings for passengers' safe exit and entry.
Renault also
upgraded its app to allow drivers to check the condition and location of their
vehicles. The service will be available on smart watches as well.
Its in-car payment
service has been strengthened so that people can order and pay for products
like food in their car before they pick up them.
"Renault came
up with the service to increase the value for our customers in all the points
we meet including product, connectivity and service," said Renault Korea
Motors CEO Stéphane Deblaise during a press event Thursday.
The strengthened
program comes amid the carmaker's shrinking sales in Korea and growing public
criticism for it not releasing new models in the domestic market. Renault is
the only manufacturer that hasn't introduced a new car in Korea this year.
Renault sold 13,975
vehicles in Korea this year through the end of July, down 54.2 percent on year
compared to the same period.
It sells three
models in Korea — SM6, QM6 and XM6 — but the first two models have not been
fully revamped since their first introduction in 2016.
When asked about
Renault's plans of building an EV-dedicated facility in its Busan plant,
Deblaise said "No details have been decided."
Guido Haak,
executive vice president of the Renault Group, had announced that Renault will
make an EV facility in Busan with a capacity of 200,000 units during his
meeting with Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon in France in June.
Neither the date nor
the investment size have been announced.