Saehan Motors

The Saehan Motor Company was a South-Korean car maker founded in 1976, which was born on the collaboration of Shinjin Industrial Company and the will of General Motors to introduce their products on the South Korean market. Saehan was born on the former General Motors Korea, which encountered difficulties when the South-Korean market collapsed, following the first round of oil rises in 1973.[1] This joint-venture, 50-50 between GM and Shinjin, consisted on a car assembly plant in Bupyong, a truck assembly plant in Pusan and a foundry at Inchon.[2] In November 1976, Shinjin Motors faced financial problems and sold its 50% stake in Saehan to the Korea Development Bank (KDB). In 1978, the Daewoo Group acquired the equity stake and management rights from KDB. The company was renamed Daewoo Motor Co. in January 1983.[3]

Saehan Motor Company
IndustryAutomotive
FateBought out by Daewoo Motors in 1982
Founded1976
Defunct1983
HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
ProductsEntry Level vehicles
ParentDaewoo Group / General Motors
Saehan Motors
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSaehan Jadongcha
McCune–ReischauerSaehan Chadongch‘a

History

The company was first established as National Motor in 1937 in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea. The name was changed to Saenara Motor in November 1962. Saenara was assembling and selling Datsun Bluebird P310s.[4] Very first automobile company in Korea, Saenara was equipped with modern assembly facilities, and was established after the Automobile Industry Promotion Policy was announced by the South Korean government in 1962.[5] Saenara Motor was then bought by Shinjin Industrial in 1965, which changed its name to Shinjin Motor after establishing collaborations with Toyota. Shinjin range included various Toyota models, such as the Publica, T40 Corona and Crown.

After Toyota's withdrawal in 1972, Shinjin Motor started a joint venture with General Motors under the name General Motors Korea (GMK), but was renamed again in November 1976 to Saehan Motor. GMK shortly sold their Rekord under the GMK marque, together with the Holden Torana based Chevrolet 1700. When GMK was renamed to Saehan, the 1700 became Saehan Camina.[6]

Saehan's range was composed of diverse GM models: the Saehan Gemini was based on 1974 Isuzu's Bellett Gemini, then replaced by the Maepsy (known under the Saehan Bird name in export versions), which was a development of the Gemini.[7] Its pickup derivate, the Saehan Max, is now a part of Korean automobile history. Saehan also marketed the Opel Rekord E and created later, on this basis, their Royale Series, composed of the Royale Diesel, Royale Automatic and Royale Salon models.

Models

Cars

Buses

Trucks

References
  1. Keller, W.W.; Samuels, R.J. (2003). Crisis and Innovation in Asian Technology. Cambridge University Press. p. 117. ISBN 9780521524094. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  2. "The Fall of Daewoo Motors|Business Strategy|Case Study|Case Studies". icmrindia.org. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  3. "simi25". carcatalog2.free.fr. Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2015-04-05.
  4. Short-lived Saenara sedan earned a place in history books http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2907920
  5. "BESTA COACH 9". Buscar.co.kr. Archived from the original on 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  6. "Camina (1976–8)". Autocade. 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  7. "Saehan Maepsy". Autocade. 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
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