Ssangyong Motor exports 6,823 units of Tivoli to Iran this year

Iran has emerged as the biggest export market for Ssangyong Motor’s small SUV Tivoli, as Western countries lifted economic sanctions against the Middle East nation last year.

Ssangyong Motor said on Wednesday that it has exported 6,673 units of Tivoli and Tivoli Air between January and November. The volume accounts for 98 percent of Korea’s total vehicle export (6,823 units) to Iran. The automaker also exported the Tivoli SUVs to Belgium (3,956) and Spain (2,233), which are the second and third largest importers of the SUV.

The Tivoli made its debut in the Iranian market through the Mashhad Motor Show in Iran in October last year. Ssangyong Motor projects that it will be able to ship a total of 8,000 vehicles including the Tivoli to Iran by year’s end, if the current trend continues.

Eun-Seo Park clue@donga.com