Daewoo's model range is going to be significantly strengthened in the coming months. First arrival here is the new Rexton SUV which is due next month and has a 2.9 litre turbodiesel engine and seven seats...............................
Then, in September, the Kalos small car will be launched with 1.2 and 1.4 litre engines and both four and five-door versions. Kalos is the Greek word for "beautiful" and, according to Daewoo, it represents a fusion between small car and MPV styling. Arriving at the latter end of this year and early in 2003 are a 1.0 litre Matiz, an all-new 1.6 Nubira and a new 2.0 litre executive car, the Magnus.
The model renewal programme was underway during the protracted negotiations which has just seen General Motors, the world's largest car manufacturer, acquire a 67 per cent stake in the Korean company.
"It was a nervous and difficult time for us during the past one and a half years," says Gerard O'Toole who heads the private consortium that brought Daewoo here in 1998, "but now we aim to get back where we were, in the top ten best-selling marques on the Irish market."
Daewoo's new L6 transversely-mounted engine for medium-sized models which has been developed at a cost of over €50 million, will also feature initially in the new Magnus. The construction is 100 per cent aluminium.
A prime objective of Daewoo Ireland now is to attract more dealers. "We have 21 exclusively at present, losing only three during the recent uncertainty," sya Mr O'Toole. "A comprehensive network is going to put us back with strong growth."