Ford Motor Co. has shuttered its local sales subsidiary in South Korea three decades after its official entry, shifting to a dealer-led import model under a new entity, FL Auto Korea.
The start of FL Auto Korea, owned by Sunin Motor, marks a retreat from direct market management in favor of a leaner, franchise-based approach.
Sunin Motor, which has worked with Ford since 1995, will now oversee sales and after-sales service for both the Ford and Lincoln brands.
Lee Yoon-dong, with stints at Hyundai Motor Co., BMW Group Korea and Audi Volkswagen Korea, will lead FL Auto Korea.
This year, FL Auto Korea plans to launch four sport utility vehicles.
The line-up begins with the Lincoln Nautilus full hybrid.
It will be followed by the Explorer Tremor, a new trim variant of its best-selling model Ford Explorer, as well as refreshed versions of the full-size Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator, the brand’s flagship SUV.