Ssangyong Motor said it would revive a two-shift working system at its Pyeongtaek factory from next week, four years after the carmaker discontinued its night shift following its court receivership in 2009.

Ssangyong, whose largest shareholder is India’s Mahindra & Mahindra, said it planned to start the new working system from May 13, dispatching the 454 workers who were reinstated in March after years of unpaid leave into three existing assembly lines.

The decision came as the carmaker seeks to continue its recent sales momentum. In April, its car sales surged to 12,607 vehicles, including 5,115 in Korea and 7,492 globally. That was the highest monthly sales figure since December 2006.

Ssangyong said its flagship sport utility vehicles such as the Korando Sports and the Rexton W drove up its car sales overall, capitalizing on the recent boom in leisure activities, especially auto-camping.

Car sales in overseas markets also soared 24.7 percent in April from a year ago, led by the upward trend in Russia and Central and South America, the company said.

“Under the new work-hour system, we expect about a 25 to 30 percent increase in manufacturing output,” said a Ssangyong spokesperson, declining to further elaborate as a test run was underway to gauge enhanced production.

“Customers are now required to wait almost two months to purchase the Korando Sports and about one month for the Rexton W,” the official said. “With the new working system, we could greatly relieve a lack of supply.”

In the first quarter this year, Ssangyong sold 31,265 vehicles globally, a 18.2 percent growth from the same period last year. Its profits also increased 16.7 percent to 751.6 billion won ($688.5 million, while operating loss was reduced by 43 percent to 17.4 billion won.

“It is meaningful Ssangyong has achieved its best monthly sales despite the prolonged economic recession globally,” said Ssangyong Motor CEO Lee Yoo-il in a statement. “We will continue efforts for growth by introducing new models.”

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)