The Hyundai Staria-based ST1 makes its first appearance in the South Korean ranking.

The South Korean new car market drops -7.1% year-on-year in May to 140,886 sales, including 116,677 locals (-10.5%) and 24,209 foreigners (+13.4%). Year-to-date volumes are off -9.8% to 658,593 including 558,241 locals (-10.9%) and 100,352 foreigners (-3.5%). Hyundai (-7.4%) lodges a third consecutive month atop the brands charts with 37% share, well ahead of sister brand Kia (-8.2%) at 32.8% of its home market. However this is not enough to topple Kia from the year-to-date top spot, yet the gap between the two brands has narrowed to just 1,500 sales. Genesis (-18.4%) is in grave difficulty but manages a five-figure monthly result for the 7th consecutive month. Tesla ranks #6 with 3% share, just as Lincoln (+168.9%), Honda (+121.7%), Ford (+37%) and Lexus (+35.4%), impress below.

The Kia Sorento (+15.2%) delivers its 5th consecutive monthly win and 8th win in the past 9 month, towering above the models ranking. 72.8% of Sorento sales go to the hybrid variant. The Kia Carnival (+7.7%) climbs two spots on April to #2 overall, a ranking it also holds year-to-date. Hybrid sales represent 49.1% of Carnival sales this month. The Hyundai Porter (-13.3%) and Grandeur (-40.6%) follow ahead of the Kia Sportage (+7.4%) with 46% going to hybrid versions. The Hyundai Sonata (+121.3%), Santa Fe (+119.2%) and Kia Seltos (+27.7%) also shine. The Hyundai ST1, the brand’s first electric work van, makes its appearance inside the ranking at #49.

Over in the foreign models aisle, the Tesla Model 3 (+3708.6%) triumphs with over 3,500 sales, distancing the Mercedes E-Class (+53.1%) and BMW 5 Series (-18.1%). The 5 Series stays in the YTD lead. The next six models spectacularly score double-digit year-on-year improvements, with the Tesla Model Y (+87.6%) the most dynamic followed by the BMW X3 (+63.5%), Lexus NX (+62.2%), Volvo XC60 (+60.5%) and BMW 6 Series (+32%).

Previous month: South Korea April 2024: Kia Sorento and Sportage top negative market

One year ago: South Korea May 2023: Hyundai Grandeur, Kia Seltos impress

Full May 2024 Top 30 All brands, Top 53 local models and Top 50 foreign models below.

South Korea May 2024 – brands:

PosBrandMay-24%/23Apr2024%/23PosFY231Hyundai52,06437.0%– 7.4%1230,21035.0%– 15.3%212Kia46,23532.8%– 8.2%2231,73735.2%– 4.1%123Genesis10,1367.2%– 18.4%355,6908.5%+ 0.5%334BMW6,2404.4%+ 3.4%528,9584.4%– 3.5%445Mercedes5,9474.2%– 5.5%423,3503.5%– 14.8%556Tesla4,1653.0%n/a912,0871.8%n/a7117KG Mobility (ex Ssangyong)4,0012.8%– 16.8%619,8763.0%– 40.2%668GM Korea2,3401.7%– 50.8%711,5561.8%– 16.4%879Renault Korea1,9011.3%+ 6.9%89,1721.4%– 13.1%9810Volvo1,5161.1%+ 0.9%105,7330.9%– 19.2%101011Lexus1,3190.9%+ 35.4%115,3740.8%+ 1.5%111212Audi8310.6%– 7.9%132,7010.4%– 67.4%15913Mini7220.5%– 16.2%143,6070.5%+ 4.2%131514Toyota7010.5%+ 11.4%123,8750.6%+ 28.7%121615Volkswagen4450.3%– 48.4%162,4750.4%– 8.4%161416Porsche3900.3%– 61.2%153,2960.5%– 35.6%141317Ford3850.3%+ 37.0%171,6290.2%– 11.7%172018Land Rover3510.2%– 14.4%191,5720.2%– 36.6%181819Jeep2770.2%– 3.8%181,2320.2%– 23.6%191920Lincoln2420.2%+ 168.9%201,1810.2%+ 91.1%202221Honda2350.2%+ 121.7%211,0110.2%+ 118.8%212422Peugeot930.1%– 45.6%224950.1%– 15.8%232123Chevrolet820.1%– 79.3%235750.1%– 74.8%221724Lamborghini530.0%– 8.6%251550.0%+ 8.4%262925Cadillac520.0%– 40.9%262750.0%– 28.0%252526Maserati510.0%– 17.7%291280.0%– 21.0%282827Bentley380.0%– 51.9%281000.0%– 65.6%292628Polestar300.0%– 78.7%243350.1%+ 9.5%242329GMC260.0%– 50.9%271330.0%– 42.7%272730Rolls-Royce180.0%– 47.1%30750.0%– 32.4%3030 –Total local manufacturers116,67782.8%– 10.5% –558,24184.8%– 10.9% – – –Total foreign manufacturers24,20917.2%+ 13.4% –100,35215.2%– 3.5% – – –Total market140,886100.0%– 7.1% –658,593100.0%– 9.8% – –

South Korea May 2023 – domestic models:

PosModelMay-24/23Apr2024/23PosFY231Kia Sorento7,487+ 15.2%142,281+ 42.9%132Kia Carnival7,211+ 7.7%436,771+ 11.5%243Hyundai Porter6,989– 13.3%532,116– 28.8%524Hyundai Grandeur6,884– 40.6%327,667– 46.2%615Kia Sportage6,644+ 7.4%233,484+ 12.9%456Kia Seltos6,120+ 27.7%823,804+ 9.6%7107Hyundai Sonata5,820+ 121.3%1116,512+ 39.3%16178Hyundai Avante5,793– 12.2%722,517– 27.2%869Hyundai Santa Fe5,605+ 119.2%634,765+ 163.2%3810Hyundai Tucson4,838+ 14.1%1420,846+ 5.4%111211Kia Ray4,456– 2.6%1221,710+ 4.7%9912Kia Bongo4,050– 23.1%1319,189– 35.8%13713Hyundai Casper3,861– 5.0%1616,976+ 0.1%141114Genesis G803,647– 24.2%920,661– 7.8%121315Genesis GV803,313+ 21.0%1520,949+ 74.7%102216Hyundai Kona2,773+ 10.0%1811,687– 24.4%181917Hyundai Staria2,744– 23.1%1016,585– 4.2%151618Kia K52,405– 24.0%1715,456+ 6.3%172019Genesis GV702,066– 21.0%239,012– 24.7%212120Kia K81,873– 58.3%1910,959– 47.0%191521Chevrolet Trax Crossover1,841– 45.8%228,756+ 35.4%222422Kia Niro1,776– 27.6%207,032– 35.3%242523Hyundai Ioniq 51,590– 33.6%245,294– 35.5%272724KGM Torres1,552– 37.0%277,068– 69.1%231825Kia EV61,380– 27.1%283,875– 59.4%302626Hyundai Palisade1,335– 62.4%219,204– 53.8%201427Kia K3995+ 2.1%266,525+ 35.5%252928KGM Rexton Sports974– 31.5%305,288– 15.6%282829Renault Korea Arkana945+ 21.6%294,844+ 11.4%293330Kia Morning907– 63.7%256,098– 42.8%262331Genesis G90866– 38.9%313,783– 29.1%313032Renault Korea QM6760– 8.1%333,731– 26.0%323133KGM Torres EVX688new323,325new334534Hyundai Venue603+ 18.0%371,827– 30.4%373435KGM Tivoli478+ 26.8%342,773+ 37.1%343736Hyundai Ioniq 6377– 66.2%361,836– 70.8%363237Chevrolet Trailblazer368– 61.1%352,071– 39.4%353638Hyundai Nexo316– 22.9%401,169– 55.4%393939Kia K9282– 9.0%391,041– 45.1%414140Kia Mohave224– 29.6%381,311– 47.5%383841KGM Rexton220– 42.0%42924– 30.5%434342Kia EV9182new411,112new403543Genesis G70156– 37.1%431,024– 37.2%424044Renault Korea Master151n/a –151+ 143.5%485745Chevrolet Traverse94+ 4.4%47459– 6.5%455046KGM Korando89– 47.0%44498– 31.5%444847Genesis GV6088– 85.3%45261– 87.3%474248Renault Korea SM645– 74.1%46446– 59.2%464449Hyundai ST124new –24new52 –50GMC Sierra23– 54.0%48127– 43.8%495351Chevrolet Tahoe13– 60.6%4945– 60.9%515452Chevrolet Colorado0– 100.0%5071– 89.8%504653Chevrolet Equinox0– 100.0% –12– 95.7%5351

South Korea May 2024 – foreign models:

PosModelMay-24/23Apr2024/23PosFY231Tesla Model 33,542+ 3708.6%25,273+ 1313.7%4n/a2Mercedes E Class2,244+ 53.1%16,440– 12.0%313BMW 5 Series1,443– 18.1%38,450– 10.5%124Mercedes GLC897+ 36.9%52,772+ 7.8%685BMW 6 Series689+ 32.0%271,383– 43.1%19116BMW X3649+ 63.5%122,313– 13.9%10147Tesla Model Y621+ 87.6%n/a6,637+ 357.4%238Volvo XC60573+ 60.5%112,248+ 12.7%11109Lexus NX550+ 62.2%n/a1,200– 6.1%232210Lexus ES543– 0.5%72,960– 18.7%5611BMW 3 Series477+ 19.3%81,819– 17.8%13912Mercedes GLE473– 20.4%92,479+ 8.2%9713Mercedes S Class466– 45.6%62,027– 56.8%12414BMW X5373– 0.3%132,487+ 5.7%81215BMW X4337+ 12.7%141,675– 38.0%161316BMW 7 Series327+ 25.3%101,546+ 77.7%172117BMW X7313+ 20.4%171,694+ 33.8%151818Volvo XC40289– 3.7%32900– 3.5%273619Mini Countryman288+ 19.5%211,439+ 53.4%182720Audi Q4 e-Tron288n/a181,113+ 27725.0%25n/a21Audi A6287+ 19.6%41581– 85.0%43522Mercedes A Class269+ 105.3%151,302+ 162.5%21n/a23Mercedes CLE250new23755new33–24Mercedes C Class229– 47.4%42,568+ 15.4%71625BMW X6229– 36.9%241,322– 11.7%201926Toyota RAV4228+ 0.4%191,165+ 1.4%242527Mini Cooper Hatch219– 45.7%201,263– 24.6%222028Mercedes G Class209– 28.4%22719– 5.1%343429Mercedes EQE205– 18.0%311,024+ 10.0%262330Volvo S90204– 33.3%25897– 38.0%282431Volvo XC90200– 21.9%33688– 34.5%362932Mercedes GLB188– 6.0%26667– 14.6%373133Toyota Camry178+ 4.7%34767– 8.6%31n/a34BMW iX3172– 48.8%n/a711+ 18.1%352835BMW i5167new30888new29n/a36Range Rover167– 13.0%43595– 55.1%413037Ford Explorer166+ 66.0%36577– 51.3%44n/a38Lexus RX158+ 3060.0%37762+ 9425.0%32n/a39VW Jetta156+ 5100.0%46658+ 181.2%38n/a40BMW X1138+ 45.3%28829+ 260.4%303841BMW 4 Series136+ 248.7%39552+ 27.2%45n/a42Lincoln Aviator134+ 538.1%47529+ 193.9%47n/a43Mini Clubman132– 18.0%42614+ 5.7%403544Mercedes CLA122– 30.7%51450– 48.5%52n/a45Jeep Wrangler121– 12.3%44471+ 31.6%51n/a46Porsche 911120– 18.9%50475– 13.5%50n/a47Volvo S60118+ 13.5%n/a534– 14.4%46n/a48BMW iX1118+ 10.3%48300+ 58.7%57n/a49Honda Accord111n/an/a406+ 2288.2%53n/a50Porsche Cayenne110– 76.5%161,819– 30.0%1415

Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers