Founded on 4th March 1954, Ssang Yong Motor Company originally started out as two separate entities; Dongbang Motor Company and Ha Dong-hwan Motor Workshop in Seoul, South Korea. The two merged in the middle of 1963 and didn't change its name until the company was taken over by Ssangyong Business Group in 1986.

In the year directly following Ssangyong's takeover, the company purchased the British-based specialty automaker Panther Westwinds in an attempt to increase their market share in the British Isles and Europe.

Ssang Yong has released numerous SUVs, including the Korando, Actyon, Rexton II and Kyron in the present day, as well as pickup trucks, vans, luxury cars and indeed trucks and buses.

With production plants in their native South Korea, Russia and Ukraine, Ssang Yong Motor Company saw revenues in 2012 reach 2.87 trillion YEN, and it employs more than 4,300 people.

In August 2010, Ssang Yong Motor Company was sold to Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, which ended up costing the Indian company 522.5 billion Won.