Samsung Targets World Auto Market

South Korea’s Samsung Group on Monday announced a $13 billion plan to turn its fledgling automobile subsidiary into one of the world’s top 10 carmakers by 2010.

Samsung Motors Inc. said it plans to introduce its first model in Korea and other markets by 1998.

To reach this objective, the company said it will invest about $2.5 billion by 1998. The money will be used to develop an automotive parts supply network, establish assembly lines, set up international distribution centers, establish a customer service system and conduct a dealer test market program in the United States and Europe.

Samsung recently established a design center in the Los Angeles area and will open technology centers in Japan in early 1996 and in Kiheung, Korea, in March 1997.