The SsangYong Chairman is a full-size luxury car that was manufactured by South Korean automaker SsangYong from 1997 to 2017. The original model was renamed to Chairman H in 2008, with a new model introduced in the same year and designated Chairman W.
On release to South Korean market in 1997, the Chairman was a high-end executive sedan. Its manufacturer, SsangYong, was best known for SUVs and RVs and the Chairman has been its only sedan. The first generation Chairman was built on the W124 Mercedes-Benz E-Class platform, but styled to resemble the W220 S-Class.
SsangYong renamed the original pre-2008 Chairman model as Chairman H (which has the same design as the 2003–2008 model) to differentiate from the Chairman W. Chairman H kept the same exterior, interior, engine, transmission and features as the previous models. In 2003, the Chairman received a restyled front grille, front and rear headlights and improved interior assembly.
The 2005 Chairman, based on the Mercedes-Benz W124 had the following features: heated and cooled cup holders, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control.
Although sold globally, the Chairman H sold very poorly outside Korea, due to both poor reviews and a lack of SsangYong dealerships. This was in part rectified by labeling the car Daewoo in some countries, which also included the Daewoo corporate grille.
In 2011, the Chairman H was once again redesigned, still keeping its Mercedes-Benz design cues.
The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) stated that in 2014 SsangYong Motor Company sold a total of 1,718 Chairman H cars in South Korea. In January 2015 the SsangYong Motor Company website no longer advertised or referenced the Chairman H.
SsangYong developed their own all-new flagship Chairman W, New Chairman with V8 5-litre engine and Mercedes-Benz 7G-Tronic automatic transmission. The Chairman W is derived from the SsangYong WZ concept car. The 'W' stands for 'World Class.'
Chairman W is offered in six trims with two engines, a limo version, and an additional AWD 4-Tronic (Mercedes-Benz 4Matic).
XGi360, once used for New Chairman, is transferred to the entry model with a straight 6-cylinder engine, and the 5-liter V8 Mercedes-Benz M113 engine and the 7G-Tronic transmission (the largest V8 engine produced in South Korea) are applied to two high-end models, VVIP and the long-wheel-base version. It has an electronically controlled self-levelling air suspension system with a rebound coil that helps reduce noise and vibration, as well as an extended rear passenger space and the front and rear both have their own screen to control the car's entertainment system, similar to Chrysler's MyGig.
The Chairman W is the first Korean luxury sedan to apply a four-wheel drive system, a feature common in high-end European sedans.
The license-built Chinese version of the Chairman is called Roewe 850.
In 23 November 2017, SsangYong Motor Company announced that the Chairman will be finally discontinued in order to shift focus on SUVs and crossovers, marking the Chairman ended its production for 20 years.
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