After the recent features on the future models strategies for Renault, Alpine, Dacia and Lada, this chapter of our analysis covering Renault-Nissan Alliance brands focuses on Renault Samsung Motors (RSM).
B segment
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RSM began selling the Clio in South Korea just a few days ago. The division’s head, Dominique Signora, told the local media in March that he hoped to see 5,000 units of the car sold by year-end. Interestingly, the Renault badges have not been replaced. This is fuelling rumours that RSM will abandon the Samsung brand name, and possibly this year. It’s worth noting that the Twizy was already sold by RSM with the Renault diamond logo.
The Clio is based on the Alliance B platform but a replacement built on the CMF-B platform – shared with the latest Nissan Micra – is due to appear in RSM showrooms during the first quarter of 2019. The fifth generation Clio will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in October. It is expected to be offered with optional hybrid or electric powertrains, and with level 2 autonomous driving capabilities. Production should be in Bursa (Turkey) and Novo Mesto (Slovakia), with CKD assembly of around 25,000 per year at the Flins plant in France.
C segment
RSM’s SM3 is a sedan based on the Alliance C platform shared with the third-generation Renault Megane. This model made its debut at the Seoul Motor Show in April 2019 before going on sale three months later. In 2010, it was announced the SM3 would be exported under the name Fluence to the Middle East, Africa, South America, Central America and Australia. Unusually, the previous-generation SM3 remained in production until 2012 and was sold as the SM3 Classic Edition due to its popularity.
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By GlobalDataThe car is built at RSM’s Busan factory and production is expected to continue until the end of 2018. It’s not clear whether RSM is planning a direct replacement considering many consumers are leaning towards SUVs and crossovers instead of traditional sedans. Renault Samsung could decide to continue production or move to another location after 2018 if it feels demand for the car remains strong. From October 2013, a BEV version of the SM3 was produced and is covered in more detail in the EV section below.
D segment
The SM5 is RSM’s smallest D-segment sedan and uses the same platform and some of the same engines as the third-generation Renault Laguna. The current model is its third iteration – both preceding versions shared their platforms with the Nissan Maxima. A facelifted model was launched in Korea in November 2012. In July 2014, RSM added a 1.5-litre diesel engine to the SM5 range.
As Renault did not replace the Latitude/Safrane, there seems very little chance of a direct successor for the SM5. The car currently remains on sale in South Korea but the existing SM6 should be its effective replacement.
The SM6 itself will be familiar to those acquainted with the Renault Talisman. This eye-catching sedan features Renault’s latest family face with C-shaped LED daytime running lights. The Alliance’s CMF-C/D platform is the basis of both. Under the bonnet sits a choice of 1.6 and 2.0-litre turbo gasoline engines, 1.5 and 1.6-litre diesels, or a 2.0-litre LPG-fuelled unit.
RSM initially hoped to sell 50,000 per year but the SM6 surpassed this milestone easily with time to spare – being more successful than the similar Talisman even though, unlike the Renault, there is only one body style. Production started in 2016 and is expected to last until 2023 when the plan for a replacement will be finalised. Before then, the SM6 is expected to receive a facelift in Q2 of 2019.
The largest sedan RSM makes is the SM7 – the current model uses the same Laguna-based platform as the SM5, but stretched to accommodate extra interior space. Production started in Busan in 2011 and is expected to run until the end of 2018 – at that point, a replacement based on the Alliance’s CMF-C/D should be announced.
From June 2012, RSM also built a version of the SM7 that was badged as a Renault Talisman – a predecessor to the current Talisman/SM6. This sizeable sedan was mainly aimed at the Chinese and south-east Asian markets. It was discontinued in relevant markets during the final quarter of 2016.
SUVs and crossovers
RSM’s answer to the rapidly growing compact crossover market is the QM3. Like the rest of the Samsung range, this is another rebadged Renault product – in this case, the Captur compact crossover that launched in 2013. The QM3, along with the Captur, is built in Renault’s Valladolid plant in Spain. This is also one of the few vehicles in its class offered in South Korea with diesel power.
It was facelifted in July 2017 and production is expected to continue until 2020 when its replacement arrives. It was one of the first Alliance cars to receive the group’s new range of 1.3-litre turbocharged gasoline engines shared between Renault, Nissan and Daimler – these units come in 115, 140 and 160PS guises and can be hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Marking a noticeable jump in size from the QM3 is the RSM QM6 SUV. This is a rebadged Renault Koleos which, itself, shares underpinnings with the Nissan X-Trail/Rogue – all are based on the Alliance’s CMF-C/D platform. It has been built at the Busan factory since its introduction in 2016.
All non-Chinese versions of the Renault Koleos are also built in Busan to be exported to other global markets. Chinese models are built in Wuhan by DRAC – Dongfeng and Renault’s joint venture. A facelifted QM6 is expected to arrive in 2020 before the model finally goes out of production in 2023.
EVs
In June 2017, RSM began offering the unconventional Twizy electric quadricycle for sale in South Korea, after having been on sale in select European markets since early 2012. This odd little EV looks more like an open-sided pod on wheels and features up to two passenger seats arranged one in front of the other. With a limited 6.1kWh battery giving it up to 56 miles of range and a modest 17kW electric motor propelling it to its 50mph top speed, it’s aimed squarely at urban drivers.
Twizy construction currently takes place at Renault’s Valladolid factory in Spain and exports models to South Korea for RSM to distribute. It’s thought that it’ll carry on being built until the end of its production life cycle at the end of 2019, at which point a replacement is expected to be announced.
The SM3 Z.E. is the battery-electric version of RSM’s smallest sedan – the SM3 – detailed above. It shares much of its design the Renault Fluence Z.E. and began production in South Korea in October 2013, one month before Renault discontinued the Fluence Z.E. due to limited sales. The SM3 Z.E. fared much better than its French counterpart, capturing 58% of the South Korean EV market in its first year of production.
It received an extensive upgrade in 2017 with a new 36kWh battery pack promising a 57% increase in electric range to 132 miles. The SM3 Z.E. is now a comparatively old model and is expected to go out of production at the end of 2018. Like the conventionally fuelled SM3, a direct replacement hasn’t been announced so its future remains uncertain. If a replacement is announced, it’ll use the Alliance’s CMF modular platform.
Future model plan reports for other manufacturers can be viewed in the OEM product strategy summaries section of just-auto.
Future product program intelligence
Additional data covering vehicle lifetime and future product plans, including code names, production plants and expected annual build is available in PLDB from QUBE.
