Car enthusiast Web sites call it "one of the world's ugliest cars." The new Rodius is meant to be a cross between an SUV and mini-van and bus, holding up to 11 people. The car is so new, it doesn't yet appear on the company's Web site.
Dassault Systemes, on the other hand, is proud that SsangYong Motor Company (Korea) developed the Rodius multi-purpose vehicle using CATIA (to design the car) and ENOVIA (to mock-up digitally and product-test virtually). In under two years, the Rodius went from concept to mass-production.
Writes Dassault, "SsangYong is the first Korean automaker to use both design and data management solutions from the IBM PLM Solutions portfolio for the entire automotive manufacturing process -- from planning and design to production. IBM Business Consulting Services managed the implementation of PLM Solutions at SsangYong's manufacturing facilities, both in Korea and abroad. Highlights of SsangYong's PLM transformation include:
* Creating an online design system, enabling the company's designers to share product data and
make inquiries in real time.
* Generating full-scale 3D digital images.
* Decreasing the number of design changes required.
* Reducing the time and cost of new product development.
Meanwhile, Ssangyong sold 55,785 vehicles in the first five months of 2004, down 20% from a year ago. The company has been up for sale since 1999, when parent Daewoo Group collapsed under US$80 billion of debt. By selling Ssangyong, creditors hope to get back some of the losses they suffered from Daewoo. Shanghai Automotive Industry and two U.S. investment funds have offered to buy the car maker, according to Bloomberg.
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