Renault Samsung Leading LPG Market, Sold Over 30,000 Domestic LPG Vehicles Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Renault Samsung Motors has dominated the market by selling more than 30,000 LPG vehicles in the domestic market last year.

On the 16th, Renault Samsung announced that it sold 31,810 LPG vehicles, accounting for 36.6% of its domestic sales last year. Considering that LPG model sales accounted for 7.6% of the entire domestic passenger car market last year, this is about five times higher.

In March last year, the government lifted regulations on LPG vehicle usage for the first time in 37 years. In response, Renault Samsung disclosed the general sales prices of LPG models of the SM6 and SM7 on the day the revised law was implemented and began full-scale sales. Then, in June, they launched the facelifted QM6 model and introduced THE NEW QM6 LPe, the only LPG sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Korea, completing an LPG lineup ranging from sedans to SUVs.

SM7 LPe equipped with Donut Tank technology

The biggest advantage of Renault Samsung’s LPe models is the 'donut tank' technology, for which they hold all mounting-related patents and trademarks. This completely solves the trunk space shortage problem, a common drawback of existing LPG vehicles. By placing the LPG tank in the spare tire space at the bottom of the trunk, the donut tank secures 40% more trunk space compared to typical LPG tanks, reaching up to 85% of the trunk space of gasoline vehicles.

In terms of economy, the advantages of LPG vehicles stand out even more. According to the Korea National Oil Corporation, while the nationwide average prices of gasoline and diesel continuously rose throughout last year, LPG price fluctuations remained within the 100 KRW range annually.

Last year, among the total 16,263 units sold of the SM6, 7,441 units (45.8%) were LPG models, and for the SM7, LPG models accounted for 3,487 units (91.7%) out of 3,801 units sold. The QM6, as the only LPG SUV in Korea, firmly proved its market competitiveness. Out of 47,640 units sold, LPG models accounted for 20,726 units (43.5%).

Kim Tae-jun, Head of Sales at Renault Samsung, said, "In Europe, LPG is promoted as an eco-friendly alternative fuel to combat global warming, with 71% of the world’s LPG vehicles operating there. In line with this market trend, Renault Samsung will do its best to provide products that meet consumer needs so that LPG vehicles can be distributed through various channels."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.