Third Korean Car Company Poised To Enter US Market - Who Should Be Worried?

Ssangyong Motor, South Korea’s smallest automotive manufacturer, is putting plans in place to enter the U.S. market in the next two years—although likely under a different brand name.

The automaker also has filed trademark requests for the words “Luvent” and “Tivoli” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Ssangyong recently unveiled its Tivoli overseas, a subcompact sport-utility vehicle sized similarly to the Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V. A well-placed source said Luvent would be the sedan or hatchback variant from the same small-car platform as the Tivoli.

The Tivoli will launch in the South Korean market in January at the equivalent price of $15,000 with a six-speed manual transmission; a six-speed automatic transmission will add about $1,500 to the cost. The base two-wheel drive Tivoli will come with a 125-hp, 1.6-liter  gasoline engine. All-wheel drive and a 1.6-liter diesel variant will be available as part of Ssangyong’s build plan. 

Yonder7 - 12/23/2014 5:49:30 PM

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All American, Japanese and British companies ...also Volkswagen ..

JDMUSMuscle - 12/24/2014 1:20:57 AM

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Oh ya, I'm pretty sure Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Land Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Lotus would be scared of SsangYong. What a moron.

MDarringer - 12/23/2014 6:47:09 PM

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No one should worry about Ssangyong. Their bizarre styling will sideline them. Hyundai/Hia is the Korean juggernaut. Ssangyong has a DUMB name will not have an enthusiastic response from consumers. Now factor in the lackluster Samsungs that Mitsubishi plans to pass off as a Mitsubishi and Hyundai/Kia win.

MDarringer - 12/23/2014 10:31:15 PM

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It should say "second" because Hyundai/Kia is one company.

iamdabest1 - 12/23/2014 11:52:22 PM

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korean company, who should worry ? SONY... yea thats about it...

Dexter1 - 12/24/2014 9:35:32 AM

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The Pontiac Aztek should be very, very worried.

randy3023 - 12/24/2014 3:29:36 PM

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"Tivioli"

Sounds like a fucking pasta.

Why are the Koreans afraid of using their native words and names for cars they sell us?

We love Korean engineering, and they should be proud of their vehicles and heritage and just name them as they do natively. Koreans should especially stop pretending to be Italians, whose cars are overpriced and not as good.

JDMUSMuscle - 12/25/2014 5:29:36 PM

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It is the same reason as the Japanese brands Not using their own language for the car names.

And there is no such thing as a Korean engineering, when all they have is a German designer from Audi (who saved Kia) and now a BMW engineer.

carloslassiter - 12/24/2014 8:44:00 PM

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"Ssangyong has a DUMB name"

what an incredibly ignorant comment.

Bamajama - 12/30/2014 3:56:24 AM

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Nobody