The Kia EV3 is the best-selling EV in South Korea in July.

The South Korean new car market edges down -1.8% year-on-year in July to 133,497 units. This includes 111,520 domestic cars (-2.9%) and 21,977 foreigners (+4%). The year-to-date tally is off a worrying -9.5% to 929,522 sales including 781,893 locals (-10.6%) and 147,629 foreigners (-2.8%). This month Kia (-2.5%) reclaims the brands top spot for the third time this year and the first time since last February. Hyundai (-3.7%) drops to #2 but remains #1 year-to-date with just above 1,000 units more than Kia. Genesis (+2.4%) is relatively solid in context and stays above 10,000 monthly units for the 9th month in a row. Honda (+658.1%), Lincoln (+188%) and Ford (+187.1%) surge below. 

In the domestic models ranking, the Kia Sorento (+33.8%) returns to the top spot it holds year-to-date, signing a 9th win in the past 11 month. The Kia Carnival (+15.4%) falls to #2 ahead of the Hyundai Grandeur (+26.3%) up three spots on June, the Kia Sportage (-5.9%) and Hyundai Sonata (+96.5%). The Kia Seltos (+15.1%) and Hyundai Santa Fe (+152.9%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10. We have a new entrant this month: the much anticipated Kia EV3, landing directly at #20 and instantly becoming the best-selling EV in the country above the Kia Ray EV and Hyundai Porter Electric.

Over in the foreign models charts, the BMW 5 Series (-9.2%) reclaims the lead both for the month and year-to-date (-16.1%) despite falling. However its advantage over the Tesla Model Y (+2359.1%) is just 22 units in July and 5 sales year-to-date… The Mercedes E Class (+21.6%) is also dynamic in third place but the biggest improvement is delivered by the Tesla Model 3 (+6105.9%) at #4. The BMW 6 Series (+56.7%) advances to #5, with South Korea probably the only country in the world where this nameplate is successful. The BMW X5 (+132%) and Mercedes GLE (+25.8%) also impress below. Among newcomers, the Mercedes CLE is up to a fantastic 11th place.

Previous month: South Korea June 2024: Weak sales, Hyundai back above Kia YTD

One year ago: South Korea July 2023: Kia overtakes Hyundai, places 6 models in Top 8

Full July 2024 Top 30 All brands, Top 55 all domestic models and Top 50 foreign models below.

South Korea July 2024 – brands:

PosBrandJul-24%/23Jun2024%/23PosFY231Kia46,23834.6%– 2.5%2322,25934.7%– 5.3%222Hyundai45,30633.9%– 3.7%1323,21634.8%– 13.8%113Genesis10,7038.0%+ 2.4%378,4978.4%– 1.5%334BMW6,3804.8%+ 7.6%541,5104.5%– 5.7%445Mercedes4,3693.3%– 19.0%434,3803.7%– 15.8%556KG Mobility (ex Ssangyong)4,2373.2%+ 4.8%728,2153.0%– 34.4%667Tesla2,6802.0%n/a620,0602.2%n/a7118GM Korea2,1991.6%– 46.9%915,6561.7%– 32.3%879Renault Korea1,4691.1%– 13.8%812,6821.4%– 9.3%9810Volvo1,4111.1%+ 0.1%108,5960.9%– 12.9%101011Lexus1,1080.8%+ 1.8%117,5290.8%– 6.3%111212Porsche1,0120.8%+ 6.2%184,5750.5%– 36.3%141313Audi9210.7%– 38.8%124,5240.5%– 59.4%15914Toyota8460.6%+ 36.0%145,3810.6%+ 17.0%121615Volkswagen8360.6%– 30.0%163,7110.4%– 16.3%161416Mini5740.4%– 28.1%134,9270.5%– 5.8%131517Land Rover4080.3%+ 0.0%152,3940.3%– 29.5%171818Ford3560.3%+ 187.1%172,2740.2%+ 1.7%182019Honda2350.2%+ 658.1%191,4760.2%+ 144.4%212420Jeep2240.2%– 51.7%201,6620.2%– 34.8%191921Lincoln1440.1%+ 188.0%211,4900.2%+ 103.8%202222Chevrolet1130.1%– 79.0%227660.1%– 76.5%221723Peugeot920.1%– 48.9%236630.1%– 33.1%232124Cadillac730.1%+ 0.0%244100.0%– 26.9%242525Lamborghini530.0%+ 17.8%252480.0%+ 9.3%262926Polestar390.0%– 67.8%274010.0%– 35.8%252327Bentley350.0%– 56.3%261750.0%– 62.4%292628GMC320.0%– 43.9%291910.0%– 39.2%272729Maserati210.0%– 30.0%281760.0%– 30.4%282830Rolls-Royce150.0%– 48.3%301100.0%– 39.9%3030 –Total local manufacturers111,52083.5%– 2.9% –781,89384.1%– 10.6% – – –Total foreign manufacturers21,97716.5%+ 4.0% –147,62915.9%– 2.8% – – –Total market133,497100.0%– 1.8% –929,522100.0%– 9.5% – –

South Korea July 2024 – domestic models:

PosModelJul-24/23Jun2024/23PosFY231Kia Sorento7,596+ 33.8%257,184+ 35.4%132Kia Carnival7,050+ 15.4%151,918+ 14.2%243Hyundai Grandeur6,287– 26.3%639,657– 44.5%614Kia Sportage6,235– 5.9%345,534+ 6.6%355Hyundai Sonata5,532+ 96.5%527,756+ 47.8%11176Kia Seltos5,489+ 15.1%734,692+ 9.4%7107Hyundai Santa Fe5,248+ 152.9%845,013+ 141.5%488Hyundai Porter5,177– 40.3%443,108– 30.5%529Kia Ray4,384+ 2.3%1429,668+ 0.9%9910Hyundai Avante3,975– 0.7%931,298– 22.2%8611Genesis GV703,839+ 12.4%1017,544– 9.7%182112Hyundai Staria3,575+ 10.3%1323,783– 1.2%151613Kia Bongo3,487– 38.4%1526,199– 34.5%14714Hyundai Casper3,425– 7.6%1623,753– 3.3%161115Genesis G803,143– 3.4%1227,494– 9.5%121316Hyundai Tucson3,124– 2.1%1128,186+ 2.8%101217Genesis GV802,837+ 49.3%1826,649+ 61.9%132218Kia K52,702+ 20.3%1721,090+ 6.8%172019Hyundai Kona2,414– 8.7%1916,694– 21.5%191920Kia EV31,975new –1,975new38 –21Hyundai Ioniq 51,764+ 30.7%208,892– 18.1%262722Chevrolet Trax Crossover1,606– 42.8%2211,825– 9.8%212423Kia K31,373+ 40.7%269,239+ 26.0%252924Kia EV61,344– 3.9%236,649– 46.1%302625Kia Morning1,335– 34.3%308,418– 43.6%272326Hyundai Palisade1,316– 59.7%2711,793– 55.3%221427KGM Torres1,310– 9.2%249,802– 64.0%231828Kia Niro1,213– 36.7%259,643– 36.1%242529KGM Rexton Sports1,193– 18.2%297,623– 17.7%282830Kia K81,154– 67.2%2113,632– 52.4%201531KGM Torres EVX778new344,670new334532Renault Korea QM6738– 6.8%315,277– 22.0%313133Renault Korea Arkana680– 3.4%286,674+ 17.2%293334KGM Tivoli649– 20.4%324,105+ 11.5%343735Genesis G90594– 46.1%335,010– 37.9%323036Hyundai Venue365– 33.2%352,686– 34.8%363437Chevrolet Trailblazer350– 49.6%362,752– 44.5%353638Hyundai Nexo330– 11.1%371,793– 45.6%403939Hyundai Ioniq 6275– 43.6%382,403– 66.9%373240Genesis G70226– 59.6%411,421– 46.5%414041Kia K9202– 45.7%421,403– 46.7%424142Kia Mohave197– 57.1%391,796– 48.2%393843KGM Rexton195– 13.7%431,267– 33.0%444344Hyundai ST1194new40393new48 –45Kia EV9161– 87.1%451,386– 46.4%433546KGM Korando106+ 6.0%44727– 24.3%454847Chevrolet Traverse106+ 0.0%46627– 12.2%465048Chevrolet Colorado65– 53.9%53138– 85.9%524649Genesis GV6064– 71.8%47379– 86.0%494250GMC Sierra35– 38.6%50192– 36.2%515351Renault Korea SM631– 84.7%48520– 64.1%474452Renault Korea Master20+ 233.3%49211+ 210.3%505753Chevrolet Tahoe16+ 14.3%5273– 51.3%535454Chevrolet Bolt EUV14– 93.9%5420– 97.7%554755KGM Korando EV6new5121new54 –

South Korea July 2024 – foreign models:

PosModelJul-24/23Jun2024/23PosFY231BMW 5 Series1,645– 9.2%411,669– 16.1%122Tesla Model Y1,623+ 2359.1%111,664+ 457.3%233Mercedes E Class1,505+ 21.6%210,421– 2.1%314Tesla Model 31,055+ 6105.9%38,081+ 1366.6%4n/a5BMW 6 Series680+ 56.7%62,700– 24.2%13116BMW X5675+ 132.0%123,643+ 23.0%7127Mercedes GLC626– 12.8%54,234+ 20.7%588Volvo XC60596+ 3.3%73,427+ 18.0%9109Lexus ES526– 7.4%114,002– 20.5%6610Mercedes GLE458+ 25.8%103,458+ 0.9%8711Mercedes CLE443new161,562new25–12BMW 3 Series440– 17.3%132,695– 21.3%14913BMW 7 Series420+ 37.7%152,337+ 49.5%162114Porsche Cayenne410+ 48.6%n/a2,283– 32.7%171515Lexus NX392+ 72.7%141,972+ 5.9%192216BMW X7383– 13.0%192,376+ 18.2%151817Mercedes S Class361– 62.4%92,923– 59.8%11418Porsche Panamera357+ 85.0%n/a647– 42.6%49n/a19VW ID.4355+ 8775.0%n/a941+ 18720.0%38n/a20Audi Q4 e-Tron354new171,868+ 46600.0%21n/a21BMW X6326+ 65.5%231,908– 12.4%201922BMW X4298– 17.0%212,266– 37.2%181323Mini Cooper Hatch269– 24.4%181,848– 33.7%222024Volvo XC40262+ 215.7%261,390+ 12.7%273625Audi A6241– 57.9%221,111– 78.3%30526Toyota RAV4236+ 6.3%271,618– 2.1%242527Mercedes C Class209– 23.2%312,973+ 4.0%101628Porsche 911204+ 94.3%n/a736+ 12.5%46n/a29VW Jetta203+ 97.1%371,009+ 199.4%37n/a30Ford Explorer203n/a38923– 22.1%40n/a31BMW iX3194– 29.7%281,110– 8.0%312832BMW 1 Series174+ 55.4%n/a519n/an/an/a33BMW i4170+ 11.1%n/a696– 52.4%473334Toyota Prius167n/an/a528+ 52700.0%n/an/a35Range Rover166– 6.7%40903– 47.2%423036Volvo XC90163– 39.4%331,009– 36.3%362937Volvo S90162– 42.3%301,256– 37.6%292438Lexus RX159– 29.3%411,054+ 78.0%34n/a39Mini Countryman156– 37.3%321,774+ 22.3%232740Toyota Camry150+ 8.7%431,048– 12.9%35n/a41Audi Q8138+ 273.0%n/a248n/an/an/a42VW Tiguan137– 77.3%49925– 62.2%391743Mini Convertible137+ 328.1%36577n/an/an/a44Honda CR-V133+ 731.3%50544+ 114.2%n/an/a45BMW X1130+ 32.7%391,101+ 118.5%333846BMW 4 Series119+ 54.5%44800+ 25.2%44n/a47Lincoln Nautilus119+ 221.6%n/a783+ 1907.7%45n/a48Chevrolet Traverse106+ 0.0%n/a627+ 23.7%50n/a49BMW i5105new451,108new32n/a50BMW iX1105+ 218.2%53507+ 62.0%n/an/a

Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers