SODERTALJE, Sweden, May 6, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Scania has inaugurated its biggest facility to date in Asia with the opening of the Scania Korea Jinsa Complex in Sacheon, in the expanding southeastern Korean province of Gyeong Sang Nam. The new facility will serve as the hub of Scania's growing South Korean operation.
"Many of the Scania trucks in the country are already in service in the region and this particular area accounts for approximately 25% of new truck sales. The area is dominated by the huge, transport-hungry Gwang- Yang steelworks, the biggest in the country," explained Staffan Sjogren, MD of Scania South Korea Ltd.
The region is criss-crossed by motorways and is served by several major airports. In addition, it is the location of some of South Korea's major ports.
In his inauguration speech at the official opening, Scania CEO Leif Ostling traced the history of Scania's successful business in South Korea:
"Scania's business in South Korea is a Scania success story. The company rebuilt its operation following the economic turbulence in the country in 1997-98, when sales of heavy trucks plunged to zero. Since the start of 1998, Scania has been operating autonomously through its subsidiary, Scania South Korea.
"Today, only five years later, South Korea is once more on Scania's list of top-ten markets in terms of sales, with an annual volume of just over 2,000 vehicles," Ostling said.
The Scania Korea Jinsa Complex service workshop was opened at the start of the year and the parts warehouse was commissioned in January. The superstructure plant has now been completed and Jinsa is ready for a range of expansion options as Scania's South Korean business continues to grow.
For further information, please contact Bo Ostlund tel. no +46 70 543 8142
Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. With 28,200 employees and production facilities in Europe and Latin America, Scania is one of the most profitable companies in its sector. In 2002, turnover totalled SEK 47,000 million and the result after financial items was SEK 3,700 million. Scania products are marketed in about 100 countries worldwide and some 95 percent of Scania's vehicles are sold outside Sweden.
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