Chinese brand Chery and South Korean carmaker KG Mobility (KGM) – formerly known as SsangYong – have signed an agreement to co-develop future models, with a focus on electrified vehicles.
Yesterday, KGM signed a strategic partnership and platform licence agreement with Chery, with the company formerly known as SsangYong saying the relationship will accelerate development of mid-sized and large SUVs for the South Korean market.
Though the joint press release only says KGM has “plans to introduce electrification models to target global markets”, The Korea Herald reports the deal is for the company to receive Chery’s T2X platform.
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Chery Tiggo 9 Pro PHEV
This platform debuted in the Chery Tiggo 9 Pro in May, exclusively available as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in its home market.
Powering the Tiggo 9 Pro is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 175kW of power and 385Nm of torque on its own.
The petrol engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission as well as a three-speed 3DHT electric motor, capable of contributing up to 165kW. Chery hasn’t disclosed the combined system outputs, however.
Despite offering no details on battery size, Chery claims the Tiggo 9 Pro can drive for more than 1400km without needing to be refuelled or recharged, on account of its 5.2L/100km fuel consumption rating on the more lenient WLTC test cycle.
KGM SsangYong Torres EVX
Similar figures can be expected to be seen in KGM’s SUVs on the same platform.
While a KGM official reportedly told The Korea Herald the T2X platform also supports petrol-only drivetrains, the brand’s push for electrification makes it likely that PHEV technology will be the focus of its rollout.
Plans for a hybrid SsangYong Korando were announced in 2019 but never came to fruition, and the carmaker has subsequently skipped past hybrids and gone straight to making fully electric vehicles (EVs), such as the Torres EVX.
The Torres EVX also has links to a big player in China’s burgeoning car industry, with its batteries coming from BYD.
Despite being known only as KG Mobility/KGM overseas, the brand last month confirmed its local division would be renamed to KGM SsangYong Australia, retaining its familiar winged logo.
Australia is one of the last markets to adopt the KGM name, created after Korean industrial company KG Group acquired a 61 per cent stake in the company back in 2022.
KGM SsangYong Rexton
Australia has been a straggler, with the UK having moved to the KGM name in 2023 and New Zealand following earlier this year.
Other markets have dropped the SsangYong name entirely, though it remains part of the brand’s new name in Australia.
In addition to the Chery and BYD tie-ups, there’s another Chinese connection in KGM SsangYong’s past.
Chinese giant SAIC Motor – current owner of MG and LDV – acquired a 51 per cent controlling stake in SsangYong in 2004. It relinquished this in 2009.
The Korean brand was later purchased by Indian firm Mahindra & Mahindra in 2011, prior to its recent acquisition by KG Group.
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