Ssangyong Motor's sales at home soar 19.4% in February

Ssangyong Motor, the local unit of Indian sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra, said Monday that its sales on home turf soared 19.4 percent to 6,571 units in February from a year earlier on the back of the popularity of its new flagship compact SUV, Tivoli.

However, its exports halved to 3,153 vehicles last month from 6,231 units in the same month of last year, as Ssangyong cut back on its shipments to Russia due to the weakening ruble.

When combined, the carmaker's sales at home and abroad reached 9,724 units in February, down 17.6 percent from a year earlier.

Ssangyong said its overseas sales will regain strength after March when it begins shipments of the Tivoli to the European and Chinese markets.