Renault Samsung Motors may develop a midsize model for Renault Group, aiming for an early 2015 launch, a local news daily reported Tuesday. But the carmaker immediately said “nothing has yet been decided.”

Under the “Renault Samsung mid-term plan,” which was cited by the Chosun Ilbo, the Korean unit of the France-based Renault will be responsible exclusively for developing the upper body of the new version of its flagship SM5 sedan.

If realized, it would be the first time for Renault Samsung, which has produced Renault or Nissan ― its alliance partner ― vehicles only after some design changes, to produce its own model.

The Korean carmaker would still be using the midsize car platform, including body structure and engine, that has been shared by Renault and Nissan, the report said.

Renault Samsung, however, neither denied nor confirmed the claim on Tuesday, saying the news report does not reflect its official position. “The mid-term plan has yet to be finalized,” said the carmaker in a press release.

Company officials had said earlier that CEO Francois Provost was scheduled to hold a press conference in mid-January on its plans for the new year.

Oh Jik-youl, manufacturing chief of Renault Samsung, said in a press conference on Friday that Renault’s resumption of production in China would have a limited impact on Korean production.

“Compared to Renault, which makes mostly small cars, we produce larger models. Chinese production will not affect our production,” he said at the carmaker’s Busan plant.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)