A spokesperson told Fleet World that although corporate sales are firmly on its radar, there will be no fleet marketing in the short term. Instead, it will focus on netting retail customers and getting back on buyers’ radars, while forming relationships with contract hire and leasing companies as a foundation for the future.

The brand returns to the UK with an all-new, European-styled Korando crossover next year, and is out to capture sales from the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai ix35, using its low-cost, off-road credentials, towing capacity and five-year warranty to introduce new buyers to the brand. SsangYong is aiming to match Kia and Hyundai on residual values as it becomes more established.

In its first year, UK sales are expected to total an almost entirely retail 1,600 vehicles, giving it a 3% share of the sector. But SsangYong doesn’t expect to compete for the low-CO2, two-wheel drive end of the market, instead saying it will be most competitive for those wanting a cost-effective four-wheel drive vehicle.

As such, some 70-80% of UK Korandos are predicted to be all-wheel drive, with 60% of those to be fitted with an automatic gearbox – playing to the brand’s traditional popularity as a manufacturer of functional off-roaders.

But there’s also a two-wheel drive version, priced from £16,995, which offers 157g/km CO2 emissions and could give it a foothold in the user-chooser market. Low operating costs and claimed best-in-class spare parts prices, as well as its long warranty and largely privately owned dealer network are expected to be attractive for business users.

A fleet of demonstrators is being rolled out across the dealer network this month, and uniquely all of these will be fitted with tow bars to allow customers to try the vehicles’ towing ability during test drives.