Korean Auto Maker Opens Van Nuys Store

Korean auto maker Daewoo made its official foray into the U.S. auto market Monday with the opening of 15 company-owned stores, including one in Van Nuys.

Like the other Daewoo stores, located in nine states, the Van Nuys branch will follow the company philosophy of marketing primarily to college students. The showroom, at 6001 Van Nuys Blvd., is within a few miles of Valley College, Pierce College and Cal State Northridge.

Daewoo Motor Co. (pronounced Dye-oo, the name rhymes with bayou) is the third auto maker from South Korea and the 10th from Asia to begin selling cars in the U.S. Some Korean auto makers are focusing their sales efforts on the U.S. because their home market collapsed amid the deepest recession in more than four decades.

The other Southern California locations are in Cerritos, Huntington Beach, Ontario and San Diego.