Renault Samsung "XM3 Meets All Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport New Car Interior Air Quality Inspection Standards"

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] Renault Samsung Motors announced on the 19th that its compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) XM3 recently met all item standards in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 'New Car Indoor Air Quality Survey.'

In this inspection targeting seven models released domestically last year, the XM3 not only satisfied all recommended standards but also demonstrated safety by detecting four out of eight harmful substances at minimal levels. Renault Samsung explained that all other inspection items also showed low detection amounts, indicating that volatile organic compounds and harmful substances causing 'new car syndrome' were low.

'New car syndrome' refers to symptoms caused by volatile organic compounds contained in paints or adhesives used in manufacturing and assembling car interiors and seats. These symptoms can include chronic headaches, respiratory diseases, and skin conditions. Volatile organic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde are classified as human carcinogens. Additionally, harmful substances like xylene and toluene can cause side effects such as vomiting, dizziness, central nervous system disorders, and worsening allergy symptoms, and are major causative agents of new car syndrome that induce respiratory and skin irritation.

The XM3 showed the lowest detection levels among the seven tested models for four measured substances: toluene, benzene, xylene, and acetaldehyde. The other four substances?formaldehyde, ethylbenzene, and styrene?also showed lower detection amounts compared to recommended standards, leading to an overall evaluation of excellent indoor air quality in the new car condition.

In addition to the XM3, Renault Samsung has applied several eco-friendly production technologies, including the eco-friendly door trim new technology called 'Hot Melting Process,' to major production models such as the SM6 and QM6, improving harmful substances and odor generation. The 'Hot Melting' process is a door trim production technology first applied domestically in 2013, which replaces conventional adhesives with a fusion bonding treatment between materials. Through this, Renault Samsung was able to reduce harmful substance emissions and significantly improve indoor air quality from the manufacturing process to the finished vehicle.

Lee Hae-jin, Head of Manufacturing at Renault Samsung, explained, "Our company regulates minimizing the use of adhesives containing volatile organic compounds throughout the production process, including interiors and seats. Additionally, we apply processes that suppress adhesive use in the vehicle interior assembly process to maximize initial new car quality while producing vehicles that also consider customer health."