In a move that could reshape the landscape of the hybrid SUV market, SsangYong, or rather KG Mobility (KGM) as it is known these days, has signed a strategic partnership and platform licensing agreement with Chery.
This collaboration will grant KGM access to Chery’s car platforms and hybrid technology for the development of its future SUV lineup, particularly mid- and large-size SUVs, reportedly similar in size to the Hyundai Santa Fe and Palisade. By leveraging Chery’s established technology and expertise, KGM says it can reduce development costs and bring new models to market more quickly.
According to a report by The Korea Herald, the agreement will include sharing the intellectual property of Chery’s T2X platform. The T2X platform is believed to be an evolution of the M3X platform, with support for advanced technologies like adaptive magnetic suspension, a hydraulic chassis damping system, and electronically controlled all-wheel drive.
The platform also supports Chery’s “Super Hybrid” powertrain, comprising a petrol-powered engine paired with two electric motors via a dedicated hybrid transmission (DHT). The main advantages of this platform are a claimed 1000 km of range, 11 gear combinations, and nine operating modes.
Variations of the platform have been used in various Chery models including the Jaecoo J8, various Exeed SUVs, and in the future, on Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) plug-in hybrid and new energy vehicles too, through a separate partnership with Chery signed earlier this year.
This collaboration could have significant implications for KGM’s future, especially since the SsangYong brand has been in various states of decay, even before its acquisition – and subsequent rebrand – by KG Group two years ago.
That said, the South Korean brand has since been keeping itself busy with the introduction of new models like the Torres EVX, and Acyton – the former already being exported to international markets like Australia.
