[Report] Tata Daewoo Mobility's 'The Choon' birthplace: Gunsan LD Assembly Plant, even conducting tests on electric commercial vehicles...

*This content was translated by AI.

The LD factory in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do, which produces Tata Daewoo Mobility's mid-size truck 'The Choon', is a commercial vehicle-only production base rarely seen by anyone outside the industry. The main factory, completed in 1995, and the LD factory, which began operations in 2020, mark the beginning of a shift from diesel-fueled internal combustion engine production to accelerating the transition to eco-friendly electric commercial vehicles.

The factory was bustling with activity, featuring clean facilities on a vast site with massive amounts of materials and personnel deployed. Various parts were neatly organized, and factory workers were assembling components along the production line to manufacture The Choon. The LD assembly plant's daily finished vehicle output is 10 units, or 1.25 units per hour. In one corner, battery components were being assembled while tests were underway for the upcoming electric commercial vehicles.

What caught attention was the location of the battery components. The batteries, which attach directly behind the commercial vehicle cab like a large refrigerator, can adjust power capacity through module integration using two types: LFP batteries and NCM batteries. This loading method differs from most passenger cars, which typically place batteries at the bottom. According to a Tata Daewoo Mobility official, some adjustments may occur during the Yangsan phase.

In addition, visitors could tour various testing areas, including facilities for testing vehicle watertightness during rainy conditions. Everything was meticulously organized and kept in a clean environment. This is a necessary condition given Tata Daewoo Mobility's characteristic multi-model, low-volume production system, and also reflects the outcome of efforts to improve hourly efficiency, as most tasks are performed manually by skilled technicians.

The LD factory initially used the project name 'Last Dream' for The Choon but has since revised it to mean 'Light Duty'. This change reflects the company's determination not to lose sight of the precious value of The Choon until the end. Vehicles produced here are sent to specialty equipment manufacturers, where they are further customized to suit specific purposes. Therefore, the production process must account for all possible applications. To achieve this, the company has selected only its most skilled workers, and only those who meet specific criteria are assigned to the LD factory.

According to a Gunsan factory official, the company, which started as Daewoo Truck and was later acquired by India's Tata Group, has received significant investments. However, in the past three years, it has not distributed dividends, demonstrating its greater respect for future value, such as eco-friendly commercial vehicles.

Meanwhile, Kim Tae-seong (CEO) stated, "For trucks, long downtime (periods when vehicles cannot operate) leads to losses. Quality must be rigorously monitored from the production stage. Additionally, we emphasize same-day delivery when maintenance is required. The collaboration with Lotte Logistics was decided based on this background," revealing the company's philosophy on quality.

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*This content was translated by AI.