[AutoDaily] On the 30th September, Renault Samsung concluded an MOU(Memorandum of Understanding) with Nissan on the production of the forthcoming Nissan Rogue model in Busan. According to the MOU, Renault Samsung will be making the new model in its Busan factory starting from the second-half of 2014. Renault will aslo be exporting 80,000 of the Nissan Rogue's to the North American market.
 
Gilles Normand who is vice-president of the Renault Group for the Asia Pacific said that Renault Samsung will become more popular in the market by producing the new Nissan Rogue.
 
The alliance between Renault Samsung and Nissan will bring a better competitive edge to Renault Samsung's competitiveness, its profitability and bring in a better service standards. So this means an end to the companies most difficult time in the their history.
 
Gilles Normand said that this MOU proves Renault Samsung has changed and makes it move forward to an international market. The Busan manufacturing plant has been working hard to do its best for this alliance in many fields from costs, deliveries and the quality of the vehicles.
 
He said that every worker is highly motivated with what they are working on and the domestic market has a positive view of the SM5 and TCE.
 
He also mentioned that the company hasn't fully recovered yet from a slump in business but from all their effort they have been moving forward with better sales, an increase in products and having next generation models being developed which will bring them back to the top rings of the market. The company also expects to become the hub for the Renault Group in the Asian markets. Right now the company has a 10% market share but he plans on doubling the market share in the Asia Pacific region..
 
President of Renault Samsung, Francois Provost said, "We(Renault Samsung) worked hard and prepared everything for producing the New Nissan Rogue, even on Thanksgiving day." Manufacturing in Busan will create $6 billion in sales to all Partners.
 
Another person who came to the ceremony for the MOU in Busan was Colin Dodge vice president in charge of the North American market said that this MOU is significant to Busan since the U.S.A and China are the world's largest markets for the car industry. So the Busan plant with its excellent operating systems will bring good competition to the U.S. based Nissan factory that also produces the Nissan Rogue.
 
Colin Dodge also mentioned that they will invest about $2 billion for the production of the new Nissan Rogue in Busan. From now on, the factories in Busan and the U.S. will maintain a good cooperating standard on the Nissan Rogue.
 
Finally, he mentioned the U.S. factory will start manufacturing four different Nissan models; Rogue, Altima, Sentra and Pathfinder from October this year. This will take up 10% of the market share in the U.S. market. The new Nissan Rogue is already launched in the western regions of the U.S., which has been received favorably in the media and by local dealerships.
 
 
By Shin Seungyoung.
(translate by Lee Jeonghwa)