A Chinese SUV, the Kenbo 600, made its debut in South Korea on Wednesday, becoming the first Chinese passenger vehicle to be marketed here.

China-Korea Motor Co., the local importer and distributor of the Chinese vehicle, unveiled the Kenbo 600 in a ceremony held at its Incheon headquarters, just west of Seoul.

The Kenbo 600, marketed as the S6 in China, is an SUV produced by BAIC Motor Corp., the passenger car making unit of China's state-owned BAIC Group, the fourth-largest automotive group in China by output.

It marked the first Chinese passenger car to be sold in South Korea. China-Korea Motor launched two Chinese commercial vehicles, including a mini truck, early last year.

The local importer of the Chinese vehicle has been taking preorders, with deliveries set to begin at the start of next month, a company official said.

The Kenbo 600 comes in two models, with a starting price of 19.99 million won ($16,644) for the Kenbo 600 Modern and 20.99 million won for the Luxury model.

The local importer of the vehicle said customers will be able to get after-sales service at 80 shops across the country, adding that it plans to launch more passenger vehicles down the road.

Meanwhile, Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD Co. set up a corporate body late last year in South Korea, heralding its full-fledged operation in the country in the near future.

BYD has been seeking to expand its presence in South Korea through a business partnership. The Chinese EV maker is also seeking to sell its cars at various dealers here, industry sources said. (Yonhap)