Saehan Motor
Encyclopedia
The Saehan Motor Company was a South-Korean car maker founded in 1976, part of the Saehan Corporations
, which was born on the collaboration of Shinjin Industrial Company and the will of General Motors
to introduce their products on the South Korean market. Saehan was born on the former General Motors Korea, which encountered difficulties when the South-Korean market collapsed, following the first round of oil rises in 1973. This joint-venture, 50-50 between GM and Shinjin, consisted on a car assembly plant in Bupyong, a truck assembly plant in Pusan and a foundry at Inchon. In 1976, Shinjin Motors faced financial problems and sold its 50% stake in Saehan to the Korea Development Bank
(KDB). In 1978, the Daewoo Group acquired the equity stake and management rights from KDB. The company was renamed Daewoo Motor Co.
in 1983.
, South Korea
. The name was changed to Saenara Motor in November 1962.Saenara was assembling and selling Datsuns Bluebird P310
. Very first automobile company in Korea, Saenara was equipped with modern assembly facilities, and was established after the Automobile Industry Promotion Policy was announced by the South Korean government in 1962.
Saenara Motor was then bought by Shinjin Industrial in 1965, which changed its name to Shinjin Motor after establishing collaborations with Toyota. Shinjin range included various Toyota models, such as the Publica
, T40 Corona
and Crown
.
After Toyota's withdrawal in 1972, Shinjin Motor started a joint venture with General Motors
under the name General Motors Korea (GMK), but was renamed again in 1976 to Saehan Motor
. GMK shortly sold their Rekord
under the GMK marque, together with the Holden Torana
based Chevrolet 1700
. When GMK was renamed to Saehan, the 1700 became Saehan Camina
.
Saehan's range was composed of diverse GM models : the Saehan Gemini
was based on 1974 Isuzu
's Belett Gemini, then replaced by the Maepsy
(known under the Saehan Bird name in export versions), which was a development of the Gemini.Its pickup derivate, the Saehan Max is now a part of Korean automobile history
. Saehan also marketed the Opel Rekord E and created later on, on this basis, their Royale Series
, composed of the Royale Diesel, Royale Automatic and Royale Salon models.
Saehan
Saehan is a South Korean corporation established in the beginning of the 1970s. It is now mostly based on textile production. The Saehan Automobile division later became Daewoo Motors...
, which was born on the collaboration of Shinjin Industrial Company and the will of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
to introduce their products on the South Korean market. Saehan was born on the former General Motors Korea, which encountered difficulties when the South-Korean market collapsed, following the first round of oil rises in 1973. This joint-venture, 50-50 between GM and Shinjin, consisted on a car assembly plant in Bupyong, a truck assembly plant in Pusan and a foundry at Inchon. In 1976, Shinjin Motors faced financial problems and sold its 50% stake in Saehan to the Korea Development Bank
Korea Development Bank
Korea Development Bank is a wholly state-owned policy bank in South Korea It was founded in 1954 in accordance with The Korea Development Bank Act to finance and manage major industrial projects to expedite industrial development and enhance the national economy. As Korea’s representative...
(KDB). In 1978, the Daewoo Group acquired the equity stake and management rights from KDB. The company was renamed Daewoo Motor Co.
GM Daewoo
GM Korea Company is South Korea's second largest automobile manufacturer and is a division of the General Motors Company. GM Korea's roots go back to the former Daewoo which was split from its parent company, Daewoo Group, in 2001...
in 1983.
History
The company was first established as National Motor in 1937 in Bupyeong-gu, IncheonBupyeong-gu, Incheon
Bupyeong-gu is one of the 10 administrative divisions that comprise Incheon, South Korea. Bupyeong-gu comprises an area of 12.35 square miles , and has a population of 553,961 ....
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. The name was changed to Saenara Motor in November 1962.Saenara was assembling and selling Datsuns Bluebird P310
Nissan Bluebird
Although Nissan's own materials indicate that the Bluebird name emerged in 1959, some records show that the name first adorned a 988 cc, four-door sedan in 1957, which was part of the company's 210 series...
. Very first automobile company in Korea, Saenara was equipped with modern assembly facilities, and was established after the Automobile Industry Promotion Policy was announced by the South Korean government in 1962.
Saenara Motor was then bought by Shinjin Industrial in 1965, which changed its name to Shinjin Motor after establishing collaborations with Toyota. Shinjin range included various Toyota models, such as the Publica
Toyota Publica
The Toyota Publica was a small car manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota from 1961 to 1978. Conceived as a family car to fulfil the requirements of the "national car concept", it was the smallest Toyota car during that period and was superseded in that role by the Toyota Starlet, which...
, T40 Corona
Toyota Corona
The Toyota Corona is an automobile manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota between 1957 and 2002. Traditionally, the competitor from Nissan was the Nissan Bluebird. The word Corona is Latin for "crown"...
and Crown
Toyota Crown
The Toyota Crown is a line of full-size luxury sedans by Toyota. The range was primarily available in Japan and some other Asian countries, originally designed to serve as a taxi...
.
After Toyota's withdrawal in 1972, Shinjin Motor started a joint venture with General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
under the name General Motors Korea (GMK), but was renamed again in 1976 to Saehan Motor
Saehan Motor
The Saehan Motor Company was a South-Korean car maker founded in 1976, part of the Saehan Corporations, which was born on the collaboration of Shinjin Industrial Company and the will of General Motors to introduce their products on the South Korean market...
. GMK shortly sold their Rekord
Daewoo Royale
The Daewoo Royale is a series of mid-size cars that was produced by Daewoo Motors in South Korea from 1983, being replaced by the Daewoo Prince in 1991, although production of the top-line Daewoo Imperial continued until 1993...
under the GMK marque, together with the Holden Torana
Holden Torana
The Holden Torana is a car which was produced by General Motors–Holden's , the Australian subsidiary of General Motors from 1967 to 1980. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning "to fly". The first Torana appeared in 1967 and was a four-cylinder compact vehicle that had its origins in the...
based Chevrolet 1700
Holden Torana
The Holden Torana is a car which was produced by General Motors–Holden's , the Australian subsidiary of General Motors from 1967 to 1980. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning "to fly". The first Torana appeared in 1967 and was a four-cylinder compact vehicle that had its origins in the...
. When GMK was renamed to Saehan, the 1700 became Saehan Camina
Holden Torana
The Holden Torana is a car which was produced by General Motors–Holden's , the Australian subsidiary of General Motors from 1967 to 1980. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning "to fly". The first Torana appeared in 1967 and was a four-cylinder compact vehicle that had its origins in the...
.
Saehan's range was composed of diverse GM models : the Saehan Gemini
Isuzu Gemini
General Motors sought a replacement for their world car T-body Kadett / Gemini, and this time, instead of building one design on several continents, they decided to build a world car in one location and export it to several continents...
was based on 1974 Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
's Belett Gemini, then replaced by the Maepsy
Daewoo Maepsy
The Daewoo Maepsy is a compact car that was manufactured by Daewoo Motor in South Korea from 1973 to 1989. The Maepsy was a badge engineered version of the Opel Kadett C, or to be more precise, of the PF50 Isuzu Gemini...
(known under the Saehan Bird name in export versions), which was a development of the Gemini.Its pickup derivate, the Saehan Max is now a part of Korean automobile history
Automotive industry in South Korea
The Korean automobile industry is currently the fifth largest in the world in terms of production volume and the sixth largest in terms of export volume. While its initial operations were merely the assembling of parts imported from Japan and the United States, Korea is today among the most...
. Saehan also marketed the Opel Rekord E and created later on, on this basis, their Royale Series
Daewoo Royale
The Daewoo Royale is a series of mid-size cars that was produced by Daewoo Motors in South Korea from 1983, being replaced by the Daewoo Prince in 1991, although production of the top-line Daewoo Imperial continued until 1993...
, composed of the Royale Diesel, Royale Automatic and Royale Salon models.
Car models
- Saehan CaminaHolden ToranaThe Holden Torana is a car which was produced by General Motors–Holden's , the Australian subsidiary of General Motors from 1967 to 1980. The name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning "to fly". The first Torana appeared in 1967 and was a four-cylinder compact vehicle that had its origins in the...
- Saehan GeminiIsuzu GeminiGeneral Motors sought a replacement for their world car T-body Kadett / Gemini, and this time, instead of building one design on several continents, they decided to build a world car in one location and export it to several continents...
- Saehan MaepsyDaewoo MaepsyThe Daewoo Maepsy is a compact car that was manufactured by Daewoo Motor in South Korea from 1973 to 1989. The Maepsy was a badge engineered version of the Opel Kadett C, or to be more precise, of the PF50 Isuzu Gemini...
- Saehan MaxDaewoo MaepsyThe Daewoo Maepsy is a compact car that was manufactured by Daewoo Motor in South Korea from 1973 to 1989. The Maepsy was a badge engineered version of the Opel Kadett C, or to be more precise, of the PF50 Isuzu Gemini...
- Saehan RekordDaewoo RoyaleThe Daewoo Royale is a series of mid-size cars that was produced by Daewoo Motors in South Korea from 1983, being replaced by the Daewoo Prince in 1991, although production of the top-line Daewoo Imperial continued until 1993...
, Rekord Royale - Saehan Royale Diesel, Royale Automatic and Royale SalonDaewoo RoyaleThe Daewoo Royale is a series of mid-size cars that was produced by Daewoo Motors in South Korea from 1983, being replaced by the Daewoo Prince in 1991, although production of the top-line Daewoo Imperial continued until 1993...