Ssangyong Motor Co., the nation's fourth-largest automaker, yesterday opened its second engine plant in southern part of the nation, which will churn out 200,000 engines per year.

The company said the plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, will make diesel engines for its sport utility vehicles such as the Rodius/Stavic and New Rexton. Ssangyong spent 180 billion won to build the facility.

"The new plant will be dedicated to producing our latest diesel engine types. We believe that this facility will play an essential role in our plan to achieve solid growth at home and abroad," said Ssangyong President So Jin-kwan during the plant's opening ceremony in the southern city.

The nation's No. 4 automaker sold 11,014 units last month, 8.5 percent more than the year-earlier period. Sales at home dropped 12 percent year-on-year to 7,302 vehicles during the period. Exports, however, more than doubled to 3,712, the company said.

- Source from The Korea Herald (Sep 09, 2004) -