SAIC to make Kyron Chinese version in the year end

Shanghai, April 17 (Gasgoo.com) South Korea's carmaker SsangYong Motor Company announced recently that it will produce the  Chinese version of Ssang Yong SUV Kyron along with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).

SAIC also told to reporters last week that SAIC is now cooperating with SsangYong to develop independently an SUV, while the details of the model and the delivering time are not disclosed at present. Sources confirmed that SAIC will soon produce own-brand SUV, with the latest Kyron as the prototype, and will first deliver a 2.3-liter version then.

Now, SsangYong has launched the 2.0-liter 2008 version and 2.3-liter Kyron priced at 243,800 yuan ($34,830) to 293,000 yuan in China. SsangYong said that at the end of this year locally-made Kyron will be upgraded based on the existing Kyron on some accessories, in order to cater to the Chinese consumer's demand and taste. A market analyst noted that the Chinese-made SsangYong Kyron will be at least 50,000 yuan cheaper than the imported vehicle.

Sources said last week that the Kyron Chinese version which soon will be launched is not the joint project by SAIC and SsangYong, but SAIC will produce domestically by paying certain technical fees to SsangYong. Thus the Chinese edition of Kyron is the independent brand SUV of SAIC, and will carry SAIC brand logo.