Editing Daewoo Motors (section)

== History ==
{{See also|Saehan Motors|Shinjin Motors}}
The company was established as "National Motor" in 1937 in [[Bupyeong-gu, Incheon]], [[Korea under Japanese rule|Japanese Korea]]. The name was changed to "Saenara Motor" in November 1962. Saenara was assembling and selling the [[Nissan Bluebird#310/311/312 series|Datsun Bluebird PL310]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Short-lived Saenara sedan earned a place in history books|url=http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2907920|publisher=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]]|date=2009-07-27}}</ref> The first automobile company in South Korea, Saenara was equipped with modern assembly facilities, and was established after the Automobile Industry Promotion Policy was announced by the South Korean government in 1962.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buscar.co.kr/eng/main6.htm |title=BESTA COACH 9 |publisher=Buscar.co.kr |access-date=2009-11-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423014624/http://www.buscar.co.kr/eng/main6.htm |archive-date=2009-04-23 }}</ref>
Saenara Motor was then bought by Shinjin Industrial in 1965, which changed its name to [[Shinjin Motors]] after establishing collaborations with [[Toyota]].

After Toyota's withdrawal in 1972, Shinjin Motor started a joint venture with [[General Motors]] under the name "GM Korea", but was renamed again in 1976 to "[[Saehan Motors]]". GM Korea shortly sold their [[Daewoo Royale|Rekord]] model under the GM Korea [[brand|marque]], together with the Chevrolet 1700, a rebadged [[Holden Torana]].

===Member of the Daewoo Group===
After the [[Daewoo|Daewoo Group]] gained control in December 1982, from January 1983, the name was officially changed to "Daewoo Motor Co." Until 1996, all cars were based on models from [[General Motors]]. All Saehan models were named 'Daewoo', the Maepsy being refreshed became the Maepsy-Na. The [[Daewoo Royale|Royale Series]] models were kept, Daewoo adding the Royale XQ and Royale Duke (March 1982), Royale Prince (July 1983) and Royale Salon Super (March 1986). Above the Royale range, the [[Daewoo Imperial]] flagship luxury car was added in 1989, with styling reminiscent of the contemporary [[Chrysler Imperial]] and [[Chrysler New Yorker|New Yorker]], but also luxury Japanese sedans. It was produced until 1993.

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|caption1 = The LeMans, released in 1986, the first Daewoo
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|caption2 = Espero model, designed by Bertone and launched in 1990
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The first Daewoo addition was the 1986 [[Daewoo LeMans|LeMans]] model, based on the [[Opel Kadett]] E. Its three-door versions were called the Racer and the five-door version were called Penta-5. This car had an international ambition for GM, as it was sold almost worldwide, as the Pontiac LeMans, Asüna GT and SE, or Passport Optima. This car was produced until February 1997, being one of Daewoo Motor's greatest successes. In 1986, Daewoo also offered a [[badge-engineered]] version of the [[Nissan Vanette]].

In 1990, they created the [[Daewoo Espero|Espero]], designed by [[Gruppo Bertone|Bertone]], initiating a tradition at Daewoo Motor of models created by Italian designers. [[Daewoo Heavy Industries]] (DHI) introduced in 1991, the [[Daewoo Tico|Tico]] mini car which was sold at Daewoo Motor's dealers. DHI was also selling since 1981 the [[Daewoo Damas|Damas]] minivan and the [[Daewoo Damas|Labo]] mini pickup, all three being based on [[Suzuki]] models. When the Royale Series range was discontinued, its models were slightly refreshed and offered under the [[Daewoo Prince|Prince]] and Super Salon or Brougham model names until respectively 1997 and 1999.

In 1992, the joint-venture with General Motors ended, leaving Daewoo Motor as an independent company.

In 1994, Daewoo started importing the second-generation [[Honda Legend]] to replace the discontinued flagship Imperial, under the name of Arcadia. This year, the LeMans also got a slight refresh, and all variants (three, four and five-door) were then sold under the [[Daewoo Cielo|Cielo]] model name.

[[File:1999 Daewoo Leganza.jpg|thumb|Leganza model, produced 1997–2002]]
The first authentic Daewoo Motor product, the [[Daewoo Lanos|Lanos]], was introduced in late 1997. It spawned three variants: four-door, three-door, called Romeo, and a five-door, the Juliet, being the first model of a whole new family of cars to be created. Styling was by [[Giorgetto Giugiaro]]'s [[Italdesign]] firm. One of its main features was the new three-parts corporate grille, reminiscent of the Daewoo Motor emblem which was to be used on many of the following Daewoo cars. In September 1997, the [[Daewoo Nubira|Nubira]] was launched, the first Daewoo model to be produced in their new [[Kunsan]] motor plant. It was designed by the Italian-based [[I.DE.A Institute]]. Also in late 1997, the mid-sized [[Daewoo Leganza|Leganza]] followed, also designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, borrowing some styling cues from the existing 1990 [[Jaguar Kensington]] concept car.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kensington|url=http://www.italdesign.it/project/jaguar-kensington-eng|publisher=Italdesign Giugiaro|access-date=2011-08-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708045116/http://www.italdesign.it/project/jaguar-kensington-eng|archive-date=2011-07-08}}</ref>

In 1998, one of Daewoo's best-known cars was introduced, the [[Daewoo Matiz|Matiz]]. The design was signed by Fabrizio Giugiaro and based on his 1992 "Lucciola" concept car which was initially imagined as a replacement for the [[Fiat Cinquecento]]. This car became Daewoo Motor's best-seller for the next four years.{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}} In 1999, Daewoo presented the [[Daewoo Magnus|Magnus]] which was a development of the existing Leganza. Sold in South Korea, alongside the Leganza, until the end of the latter's production in 2002, it existed in two variants: Classic and the sportier Eagle, the Nubira received a facelift in the same year. The [[Daewoo Rezzo|Rezzo]] minivan was also introduced in early 2000. The Matiz got a facelift in 2001. In 2002, the Magnus L6 was introduced, equipped with Daewoo's first [[straight-six engine]], with a new front grille and lamps. The same year, Daewoo also presented the [[Daewoo Kalos|Kalos]] subcompact, designed to replace the Lanos.

=== Logo ===
<gallery>
File:GM Korea 1972.png|1972–1974
File:GM Korea 1974.png|1974–1976
File:Daewoo Motors (1983-1994).svg|1983–1994
File:Daewoo Lanos, Oude Pekela (2019) 30.jpg|1994–2002
File:Daewoo logo.png|2002–2016
</gallery>

===Acquisition and later sale of SsangYong Motor===
{{See also|SsangYong Motor}}
[[File:0 Daewoo Matiz M300.jpg|thumb|The Matiz was introduced in 1998 and then rebranded Chevrolet when GM acquired Daewoo Motors in 2002]]
In 1998, after the [[Asian financial crisis]], Daewoo Motor took over the troubled [[four-wheel-drive]] specialist [[SsangYong Motor Company|SsangYong Motor]], only to sell it off again in 2000, because the conglomerate ran into deep financial trouble.<ref name=guard/> Its models were sold under the Daewoo-SsangYong badge in South Korea, contrary to other areas where they were sold under the Daewoo brand name. SsangYong's flagship limousine, the [[SsangYong Chairman|Chairman]], was integrated to the Daewoo range, becoming the Daewoo Chairman, with a new three-part Daewoo corporate grille.

===Sale of Daewoo to General Motors===
By 1999, the whole [[Daewoo|Daewoo Group]] ran into financial trouble, and was forced to sell its automotive division. Candidates for the operation included [[Hyundai Motor Group|Hyundai]] associated with [[DaimlerChrysler]], [[Ford Motor Company]] and the [[General Motors|GM]]-[[Fiat]] alliance. Finally, [[General Motors]] was the one who acquired Daewoo Motor's assets at $1.2 billion in 2002.<ref name=nyt/>

In 2002, [[Tata Daewoo|Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Company]] was spun off from parent Daewoo Motor Co. Ltd. In 2004, it was acquired by [[Tata Motors]], India's largest passenger automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturing company.