So International
From Wikislippy
So International is a Korean based manufacturing operation and is owned by Am-Kor Limited.
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History
When Kim Young So was young, he began working at a local bicycle repair shop in Seoul, South Korea. After a few successful investments, Kim Young So bought a majority share in the shop. In 1951, the name was changed to So Bicycle Shop. In 1957, Kim Young So purchased a second shop in Seoul.
In 1965, Kim Young So purchased a small local bicycle parts manufacturer. In 1968, Kim Young So built a new modern facility with the bicycle shop and manufacturing facility in one building. In 1971, the name was changed to So Manufacturing.
Kim So passed away in August 1997. His company was passed onto his son. His son had no interest in the company and soon began looking for someone to buy the company. So Bicycle Manufacturing and Repair was purchased in 1997 and merged with rival JT Bicycles. The remaining parts of So Manufacturing was purchased in 1998 by Am-Kor Limited, a business owned by American Alex Richards and Korean Han Lee. In 1999, So Manufacturing was changed to So International.
Outside of Korea and Japan, So International is known as Am-Kor.
So Bicycles
So Bicycles was the first and most successful division of So International. In 1996, the company was was sold to an individual and the name was changed.
So Motors
So Motors was created in 1980 as an experiment. It was a test to see if So Manufacturing could create a successful car. The car was the So Shi-Tei. The Shi-Tei was a compact car powered by the Si4. The Shi-Tei turned out to be a minor success until 1987 when sales began to fall. Production of the Shi-Tei stopped in January 1994.
The Shi-Tei was brought back into production in 2002 by Am-Kor Limited. Am-Kor has turned the Shi-Tei into a minor success. Outside of Korea, the car is known as the So Car. So Motors announced an electric version in 2008 named the So STE. In 2009, So Motors made a deal with Richards Motor Company to sell cars in North America.
Foreign Markets
Japan
So Manufacturing Japan was launched in 1975. SMJ mainly sold bicycles in Japan. In 1997, So Manufacturing Japan was sold to JT Bicycles.
Russia
So Manufacturing Russia was created in 1984 as a test to see if the So Car could be sold in Russia. So International Russia was eventually closed. So International Russia was sold to a Russian company in 1992.
United States
So America was created in 1983 to sell the So Car in North America. In 1999, So America was renamed Am-Kor North America.
