February 11, 2008
NEW SSANGYONG PRESS OFFICE
Dear Colleague,
SsangYong probably hasn’t been on your radar for a couple of years, but I hope that’s about to change!
A new company, Koelliker UK Ltd, headed by former Landwind Europe and Kia boss, Paul Williams, has taken over the importation and distribution of SsangYong after the previous distributor went into administration in December. And I’m delighted to tell you that SsangYong now has a new and fully functioning press office.
The range of 13 Kyron, Rodius and Rexton models is new, with completely revised specifications and equipment as well as new pricing starting at just £14,995. Most journalists will not have seen or driven the latest cars, but that’s changing too. From next month we will have a press test fleet ready for you to experience – and perhaps be surprised by – the latest models. Please contact me for bookings.
SsangYong is being relaunched with a new management team in place, and new marketing initiatives. I will now keep you regularly informed and provide you with news and up to date images, starting very soon with details of the new range and other plans. Paul Williams and I will also be at the Geneva Show and if you are attending, I hope you will find the time to drop by for a chat.
SsangYong registrations in 2007 are over 30 per cent down – and a total in 2006 of only 2,017 was hardly impressive. Starting with a clean sheet, we aim to achieve 3,000 registrations this year to provide a solid platform for the future.
Koelliker UK (KUK) has the financial strength and stability, experience and muscle to enable SsangYong to punch well above its weight. Although an unfamiliar name here, KUK is a new company within Gruppo Koelliker, Italy’s most important private automotive group with a 2006 turnover of €1.612 billion on sales of 92,475 vehicles. Crucially, Gruppo Koelliker already handles SsangYong not only in Italy, but also in Austria and Hungary. But the group’s experience of Korean brands goes even deeper than that. Koelliker also handles Kia and Hyundai in Italy, as well as Mitsubishi.
Gruppo Koelliker has a solid pedigree and was founded in 1936 by Bepi Koelliker. His son, Luigi now runs the business from headquarters in Milan. In over 70 years, the group has sold over 1.4 million passenger cars including Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Rootes Group and British Leyland brands, Chrysler Jeep and Seat. Gruppo Koelliker includes logistics and parts handling businesses as well as dealerships in Milan, Turin, Rome, Padua and Bologna.
Please make a note of my contact details below and look out for a very new and different SsangYong from now on. If you require any immediate information or assistance, do let me know – I’m here to help.
Best regards,
Simon Small
SsangYong Press Office
Telephone 01622 812961
Mobile 07860 438738
Email simon.small@spresso.co.uk
54654/110208