Last Friday, January 2, Renault Samsung Motors, the local branch of the French carmaker, announced that its 2014 sales rose by 29.6 percent, to 169,854 vehicles, compared to 2013’s 131,010 units.

In South Korea, sales went up by an impressive 33.3 percent, to 80,003 units, while exports also increased by 26.6 percent, to 89,851 units according to a report from Yohhap News.

The local sales increase was attributed mainly to the sales success of the QM3 small crossover. The rebadged Renault Captur accounted for 22.7 percent of total deliveries, while the SM3 compact and SM5 midsize saloon together held a 59.8 percent.

Overseas, the QM5 crossover led the sales increase, with a 51.3 percent share of all exports. The Nissan Rogue SUV, which is built on the company’s Busan factory and since last September was exported to the US, had a 30 percent share.

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