The Kia Sorento is the best-selling vehicle in South Korea for the third month ever.

The South Korean new light vehicle market advances 3.4% year-on-year in November to 160,624 units, including 132,231 (+4.1%) for domestic carmakers and 28,303 (+0.3%) for foreigners. The year-to-date volume is up 5.7% to 1,596,840 including 1,337,560 locals (+6.4%) and 259,280 foreigners (+2.2%). Hyundai (+24%) single handedly pulls the entire market up and scores a 38.1% share vs. 36.6% year-to-date. It is the first time in 40 months (since July 2020) that Hyundai passes the 60,000 monthly units mark. Kia (-3.6%) and Genesis (-6.3%) complete the podium in weak fashion, with the next three carmakers also in negative: Mercedes is at -7.3%, BMW at -2.5% and KG Mobility at -21.2%. Tesla is now included in the brands ranking and points at #7. Peugeot (+100%), Toyota (+78.8%), GM Korea (+46.6%) and Lexus (+42.4%) post the best performances in the market. 

In the domestic models ranking, the Kia Sorento (+40.7%) is the overall best-seller for the third consecutive month and the third time ever thanks to its recent facelift. The Hyundai Porter (+31.8%) is also in great shape and stays at #2 with the Hyundai Santa Fe (+206.6%) pushed up by the new generation. Note hybrid variants account for 79% of Santa Fe sales this month. The Hyundai Grandeur (+112.6%) is in the same position and holds onto the YTD pole position. The Hyundai Sonata (+30.9%) is the only remaining double-digit gainer in the Top 10 while the Kia Sportage (+3.8%) matches the market and the Kia Carnival (-22.6%), #1 a year ago, freefalls. The Hyundai Kona (+363.1%), Venue (+79.6%), Genesis GV80 (+75%), Hyundai Tucson (+38.6%) and Kia Seltos (+28.9%) also shine below. The new KG Mobility Torres EVX is up to #25.

Over in the foreign models charts, the Tesla Model Y (+250.7%) takes the lead, toppling the Mercedes E Class (+30.6%). The BMW 5 Series (-19%) returns to the podium despite a harsh year-on-year fall. The Mercedes S Class (-25.3%) also struggles but climbs back up three spots on October to #4. The next five models all deliver solid runs, with the BMW X7 posting an extravagant 29250% year-on-year gain at #7. The BMW 7 Series (+343.1%) and Volvo XC60 (+281.7%) also skyrocket while the Lexus ES (+28.6%) and Mercedes GLE (+20.7%) are more modest yet still very strong.

Previous month: South Korea October 2023: Hyundai defies negative market, Kia Sorento #1 again, Hyundai Santa Fe #3

One year ago: South Korea November 2022: Kia places 4 models in Top 5, Carnival scores 2nd ever top spot

Full November 2023 Top 32 All brands, Top 55 All local models and Top 50 foreigners below.

South Korea November 2023 – brands:

PosBrandNov-23%/22Oct2023%/22PosFY221Hyundai61,16938.1%+ 24.0%1584,75136.6%+ 17.3%112Kia50,32231.3%– 3.6%2520,10332.6%+ 6.0%223Genesis10,8896.8%– 6.3%3115,8737.3%– 3.3%334Mercedes7,1684.5%– 7.3%468,1564.3%– 4.7%545BMW7,0324.4%– 2.5%569,5464.4%– 3.0%456KG Mobility (ex Ssangyong)5,0503.1%– 21.2%759,8383.7%– 5.2%667Tesla3,5632.2%n/an/a15,4391.0%n/a10n/a8GM Korea3,0161.9%+ 46.6%636,5412.3%+ 3.2%789Renault Korea1,8751.2%– 66.2%820,4541.3%– 58.6%8710Volvo1,6401.0%– 37.3%915,4101.0%+ 22.1%111111Audi1,3920.9%– 16.5%1016,6501.0%– 11.3%9912Lexus1,1830.7%+ 42.4%1112,1910.8%+ 86.6%121513Mini9970.6%– 18.7%138,7310.5%– 14.8%151214Volkswagen9660.6%– 50.3%128,7850.6%– 33.0%141015Toyota8350.5%+ 78.8%147,6020.5%+ 30.6%161716Porsche7520.5%– 21.9%1510,4420.7%+ 30.9%131417Chevrolet5760.4%– 45.5%165,4720.3%– 35.8%171318Jeep4200.3%– 29.9%194,0520.3%– 38.5%191619Ford3790.2%– 28.5%213,1410.2%– 33.7%201820Land Rover3000.2%– 25.2%174,6840.3%+ 68.0%182021Peugeot2760.2%+ 100.0%221,7630.1%– 5.3%212322Honda1870.1%+ 25.5%201,2340.1%– 58.3%231923Lincoln1760.1%– 28.2%231,1430.1%– 52.9%242224Polestar1670.1%– 6.7%181,5560.1%– 40.7%222125Cadillac1150.1%+ 15.0%258590.1%+ 2.5%252426Bentley650.0%+ 18.2%247470.0%+ 0.1%262527GMC360.0%new304460.0%new27 –28Lamborghini330.0%– 26.7%263840.0%+ 7.9%292729Maserati230.0%– 25.8%273870.0%– 25.9%282630Rolls-Royce110.0%– 50.0%292550.0%+ 16.4%302831DS100.0%+ 0.0%281510.0%+ 81.9%313032Jaguar10.0%– 83.3%31540.0%– 66.3%3229 –Total local manufacturers132,32182.4%+ 4.1% –1,337,56083.8%+ 6.4% – – –Total foreign manufacturers28,30317.6%+ 0.3% –259,28016.2%+ 2.2% – – –Total market160,624100.0%+ 3.4% –1,596,840100.0%+ 5.7% – –

South Korea November 2023 – local models:

PosModelNov-23/22Oct2023/22PosFY221Kia Sorento9,364+ 40.7%177,743+ 26.4%322Hyundai Porter9,255+ 31.8%291,622+ 10.2%213Hyundai Santa Fe8,780+ 206.6%343,661+ 75.4%10214Hyundai Grandeur7,980+ 112.6%4104,652+ 80.1%135Kia Sportage5,982+ 3.8%964,010+ 30.1%576Kia Carnival5,857– 22.6%1064,552+ 24.8%457Kia Bongo5,855– 1.6%659,104– 2.7%748Hyundai Avante5,828+ 2.2%560,222+ 19.2%669Hyundai Casper5,701+ 2.3%1241,430– 6.9%111010Hyundai Sonata4,895+ 30.9%734,476– 21.3%17911Kia Ray4,587+ 11.9%846,676+ 15.9%91312Kia Seltos4,446+ 28.9%1647,079+ 22.0%81413Genesis GV803,874+ 75.0%3024,423+ 23.0%222614Kia K53,783+ 17.9%1931,016+ 7.2%211715Hyundai Staria3,342+ 0.5%1436,244+ 19.7%161516Hyundai Kona3,209+ 363.1%1732,595+ 325.5%193817Hyundai Tucson3,205+ 38.6%1340,156+ 34.7%131618Hyundai Palisade3,157– 27.7%1839,027– 14.0%14819Genesis G803,023– 28.4%2241,107– 2.9%121120Genesis GV702,910+ 2.8%1131,826+ 22.8%201821Kia K82,799– 27.6%2038,578– 4.9%151222Chevrolet Trax Crossover2,306new1522,019new25 –23Kia Morning2,111– 37.1%2124,071– 11.6%232024Hyundai Ioniq 51,723– 10.3%2615,814– 40.7%272325KG Mobility Torres EVX1,667new511,715new45 –26Kia Niro1,661– 16.9%2322,149– 20.1%241927KG Mobility Torres1,546– 58.0%2433,568+ 72.1%182828Kia K31,428– 32.5%2911,858– 36.9%292929Kia EV61,096– 51.9%2516,534– 30.0%262530Renault Korea QM61,034– 61.2%3210,110– 61.4%312231KG Mobility Rexton Sports994– 34.9%2714,341– 41.4%282432Hyundai Venue776+ 79.6%287,755+ 4.7%343733Genesis G90719– 47.3%3311,325– 46.2%302734Renault Korea XM3694– 70.9%358,209– 53.9%333035Hyundai Ioniq 6618– 84.2%379,101– 11.1%323336KG Mobility Tivoli575+ 8.5%346,217– 41.1%363437Chevrolet Trailblazer425– 43.9%367,114– 48.4%353138Kia EV9375new315,364new37 –39Kia Mohave313– 55.2%394,768– 57.0%383240Genesis G70267– 53.6%404,044– 23.0%404041Kia K9236– 61.9%413,675– 38.6%413942Hyundai Nexo232– 78.8%434,249– 56.3%393643KG Mobility Rexton170– 52.8%462,645– 26.0%434444Renault Korea SM6147– 63.7%452,067– 46.5%444345Chevrolet Colorado98– 49.2%381,626– 37.7%464546KG Mobility Korando98– 69.9%491,352– 72.5%494247Genesis GV6096– 76.3%483,148– 42.0%424148Chevrolet Traverse81– 61.1%421,115– 37.3%504749Chevrolet Bolt EUV32– 31.9%471,616– 15.2%474850GMC Sierra22new52423new53 –51Chevrolet Bolt19– 51.3%53248– 63.3%545352Chevrolet Equinox18– 83.0%44630– 38.1%515153Chevrolet Tahoe14– 22.2%50236– 35.3%555554Chevrolet Spark0– 100.0% –1,419– 86.5%483555Kia Stinger0– 100.0%–483– 74.3%5246

South Korea November 2023 – foreign models:

PosModelNov-23/22Oct2023/22PosFY221Tesla Model Y3,542+ 250.7%213,086+ 84.8%372Mercedes E Class3,092+ 30.6%122,209– 12.9%113BMW 5 Series1,807– 19.0%418,509– 4.1%224Mercedes S Class799– 25.3%79,748– 19.9%435Mercedes GLE775+ 20.7%126,109– 8.0%786Volvo XC60710+ 281.7%105,229+ 127.2%11327BMW X7587+ 29250.0%63,775– 3.9%18188Lexus ES562+ 28.6%57,178+ 80.0%6159BMW 7 Series545+ 343.1%293,110+ 13.0%212610Audi A6543– 23.6%97,348+ 12.7%5411Mercedes GLC497+ 23.0%115,962+ 32.1%81312BMW X5464– 32.6%134,642– 32.3%13513BMW 6 Series434+ 40.5%85,458+ 39.9%101914BMW X1395n/a331,400– 38.4%493715VW Tiguan379– 65.9%174,036– 12.1%171116Lexus NX358+ 5.0%252,932+ 99.7%22n/a17Porsche Cayenne354– 45.1%184,447+ 26.8%152018Mini Cooper Hatch353– 25.4%163,283– 19.6%191719Mercedes CLS349– 16.9%152,672– 16.0%252220Mini Countryman336– 31.1%362,479– 0.8%282721BMW X3335– 55.7%274,457– 26.5%141022Mercedes EQS322+ 59.4%n/a1,852+ 17.1%344723BMW 1 Series318+ 265.5%201,586– 9.7%394824BMW X6284– 23.7%223,251– 26.3%201625Toyota RAV4276– 21.8%232,687+ 14.0%243126Mini Clubman259+ 32.8%351,864– 16.4%333427Mercedes EQE255– 38.0%n/a2,655+ 227.8%26n/a28BMW iX3249+ 29.0%242,534+ 50.8%273929Volvo XC40235+ 44.2%n/a1,741– 16.3%363830Volvo XC90232– 56.9%462,295+ 21.2%293631BMW X4231– 59.4%264,732+ 3.3%121432Ford Explorer219– 32.0%n/a1,404– 52.0%482533Mercedes GLS205+ 138.4%n/a1,514– 21.8%444534BMW 3 Series197– 71.4%35,879– 6.8%9935Mercedes EQB192+ 19.3%n/a1,682+ 256.4%37n/a36Mercedes C Class178– 73.3%314,144+ 40.9%162137BMW i7176+ 2414.3%40822n/a67n/a38Porsche Taycan175+ 733.3%431,493+ 53.6%46n/a39Polestar 2167– 6.7%191,556– 40.7%412940Volvo S90165– 87.3%342,795– 46.1%231241Jeep Grand Cherokee164– 15.5%n/a982– 22.2%594942Lexus RX163+ 715.0%491,203+ 295.7%52n/a43Audi Q5160+ 92.8%n/a1,494– 19.0%454044Toyota Alphard155n/an/a460n/a78 –45Volvo S60152+ 198.0%391,539+ 160.8%42n/a46VW ID.4146+ 1023.1%42910– 28.4%63n/a47VW Arteon135– 45.3%n/a936– 58.8%613348Toyota Crown133newn/a749new70 –49Lincoln Aviator131+ 9.2%n/a393– 68.6%79n/a50Mercedes GLB129– 59.0%212,079– 27.4%3224

Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers