Renault Samsung XM3 Surpasses 20,000 Cumulative Contracts Within One Month of Launch

The Proportion of XM3 Selection Among Existing Midsize and Compact Sedan Owners Also Increases

Renault Samsung XM3 (Photo by Renault Samsung)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Renault Samsung Motors announced on the 13th that its compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) 'XM3' surpassed 20,000 cumulative contracts within one month of its launch. Notably, many customers who previously drove mid-size or compact sedans chose the XM3.

According to Renault Samsung's analysis of XM3 buyers, 26.3% of all customers switched from mid-size or compact sedans to the XM3. Among the top five models previously driven by XM3 buyers, four were mid-size or compact sedans. Customers who previously drove mid-size sedans accounted for 13.4% of the total.

Among buyers, 12.8% chose the XM3 after considering purchasing a mid-size or compact sedan. Additionally, 10.3% switched to the XM3 while planning to buy a mid-size SUV. This indicates that the XM3 is attracting customers who were deliberating between compact sedans, mid-size sedans, and mid-size SUVs. The popularity of SUVs also appears to have contributed to the XM3's strong performance. Last year, SUV sales in the domestic car market increased by 7.2%, while sedan sales decreased by 8.2%.

Furthermore, test drives were found to have a decisive impact on customers' final purchase decisions. Among all buyers, 94% made their final decision to purchase the XM3 after taking a test drive. The price of the XM3 was also cited as one of the factors satisfying customers.

Of all contracted customers, 89% chose the high-performance ‘TCe 260’ engine over the economical ‘1.6 GTe’. The TCe 260 engine is a downsized 4-cylinder direct-injection gasoline turbo engine jointly developed by Renault and Daimler. It features a Getrag 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (EDC), enabling smooth yet efficient driving.

Kim Tae-jun, Head of Sales at Renault Samsung, said, "The biggest reason the XM3 exceeded 20,000 cumulative contracts within one month of launch is thanks to smart customers who pursue rational consumption." He added, "We will do our best to achieve ‘top quality’ so that the XM3, which combines a new sense of premium design with the strengths of an SUV and the appeal of a sedan, can satisfy customers to the fullest."

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