SEOUL, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Renault Samsung Motors Inc, one of South Korea's smallest automakers, said on Thursday it sold 9,223 vehicles in July, up from 7,076 units a year ago.
France's Renault SA took a 70-percent stake in a venture with local banks to revive the ailing auto arm of the Samsung Group [SAGR.UL] conglomerate in September 2000.
Renault Samsung spokesman Cho Don-young told Reuters that the increase in sales was due largely to a big turnaround in consumer perceptions toward the automaker's only model -- the SM5 mid-sized sedan -- based on Nissan's Maxima and launched by Samsung in 1998.
Sales of the SM5 have tapered off slightly since reaching more than 10,000 per month earlier in the year.
Unlisted Renault Samsung sells most of its cars in South Korea. Last month, it began production of its second model, the 1.5-litre SM3 compact sedan, with sales scheduled to begin in September.