Renault Korea changes emblem

Renault Korea has changed its emblem from the Eye of the Typhoon, used since its days as Samsung Motors, to the company's global emblem, the Losange, according to the company on Wednesday.

The move comes as part of a broader strategy to phase out the mid-size sedan SM6, closely tied to the Samsung brand, and pivot towards a lineup dominated by sports utility vehicles (SUVs), electric vehicles, and hybrids.

Stephane Deblaise, the CEO of Renault Korea shared that the compact SUV XM3, known domestically, will be rebranded as the New Renault Arkana, aligning it with its international designation and updating its logo to reinforce the brand's French heritage.

The QM6, a mid-size SUV, will continue under its original name but adopt the Losange emblem to signal its place within the global Renault portfolio.

Conversely, the SM6 sedan, with 2,199 units sold in Korea last year, is set for discontinuation.

Renault Korea's Busan manufacturing facility, the birthplace of the SM6, is slated for reorganization to concentrate on SUVs and electrified models, reflecting a shift in the company's strategic focus.

Write to Jin-Won Kim at jin1@hankyung.com