The Kia PV5 has landed in its home charts.

The South Korean new light vehicle market edges up 1% year-on-year in August to 138,408 units, that includes 111,109 for domestic manufacturers (-3.2%) and 27,299 for foreigners (+22.6%). The year-to-date tally is now up 3.2% to 1,100,839 including 908,543 locals (+1.3%) and 192,296 foreigners (+13.2%). Hyundai (+2.6%) easily holds onto the brands top spot with 35.4% share, distancing its sister brand Kia (-6.8%) at 31.6%. Genesis (-29.6%) is in trouble and below the 10,000 sales mark for the third time in the past 4 months. Tesla (+261.1%) roars ahead to #4, breaking its volume (7,974) and share (5.8%) records. BMW (+9.8%) follows ahead of Mercedes (-18%). KG Mobility (+2.8%) stays at #7 and Renault Korea (+186.5%) at #8.

The Hyundai Avante (+94.3%) tops the models charts for the first time since September 2021 and ranks #3 year-to-date where it is up 51.6%. Leader for 10 consecutive months up to June, the Kia Sorento (+86.5%) sports a fantastic YoY gain but ends the month in 2nd place. #1 in July, the Kia Carnival (+9%) is down to #3, followed by the Kia Sportage (-3.9%) and Hyundai Porter (+7.3%). The Hyundai Palisade (+242.2%) continues to align superb performances due to the new generation but drops three spots on July to #6. The striking Kia PV5 lands at #52. Among foreign models, the Tesla Model Y (+450%) triumphs and even ranks #2 when including domestic models. The BMW 7 Series (+79.5%), 5 Series (+78.3%), Tesla Model 3 (+40.2%) and BMW X5 (+38.6%) also stand out. 

Previous month: South Korea July 2025: Kia Carnival topples Sorento to #1, Hyundai Palisade #3

One year ago: South Korea August 2024: Hyundai Sonata #1, Kia EV3 breaks into Top 10

Full August 2025 Top 31 All brands, Top 59 All domestic models and Top 50 foreigners below.

South Korea August 2025 – brands:

PosBrandAug-25%/24Jul2025%/24PosFY241Hyundai49,01935.4%+ 2.6%1390,80535.5%+ 5.3%112Kia43,67531.6%– 6.8%2365,90733.2%– 0.9%223Genesis9,3116.7%– 29.6%378,6527.1%– 14.3%334Tesla7,9745.8%+ 261.1%434,5433.1%+ 55.1%785BMW6,4584.7%+ 9.8%551,2284.7%+ 8.1%446Mercedes4,3323.1%– 18.0%641,3793.8%+ 4.3%557KG Mobility4,0552.9%+ 2.8%726,8422.4%– 16.5%868Renault Korea3,8682.8%+ 186.5%835,9333.3%+ 156.1%679Volvo1,3130.9%+ 5.5%129,0950.8%– 7.6%111010Audi1,2630.9%+ 25.0%107,4320.7%+ 34.3%131311Lexus1,2490.9%– 7.8%910,2120.9%+ 14.9%101112GM Korea1,1810.9%– 26.8%1110,4040.9%– 39.8%9913Toyota8830.6%– 1.9%146,1620.6%– 1.9%141214Porsche7650.6%+ 2.4%137,5420.7%+ 41.7%121415Mini6650.5%+ 75.5%154,8070.4%– 9.4%151616Land Rover4460.3%+ 12.3%173,3430.3%+ 19.8%171717Volkswagen4100.3%– 71.6%163,6940.3%– 28.4%161518BYD3690.3%new191,9470.2%new193019Ford3540.3%– 9.7%183,2880.3%+ 23.3%181820Polestar2570.2%+ 5040.0%201,8660.2%+ 359.6%202321Jeep1210.1%– 32.0%211,2690.1%– 31.0%221922Honda1110.1%– 59.2%221,4070.1%– 19.5%212023Peugeot720.1%+ 46.9%245990.1%– 15.9%242224Lincoln580.0%– 58.0%238830.1%– 45.8%232125Cadillac570.0%– 6.6%254460.0%– 5.3%252426Ferrari290.0%n/a292380.0%n/a273127Maserati260.0%+ 136.4%271670.0%– 10.7%292828Lamborghini240.0%– 36.8%262870.0%+ 0.3%262529GMC240.0%– 11.1%301670.0%– 23.4%282730Bentley230.0%– 42.5%281650.0%– 23.3%302631Rolls-Royce160.0%+ 23.1%311300.0%+ 5.7%3129 –Total local manufacturers111,10980.3%– 3.2% –908,54382.5%+ 1.3% – – –Total foreign manufacturers27,29919.7%+ 22.6% –192,29617.5%+ 13.2% – – –Total market138,408100.0%+ 1.0% –1,100,839100.0%+ 3.2% – –

South Korea August 2025 – domestic models:

PosModelAug-25/24Jul2025/24PosFY241Hyundai Avante7,655+ 94.3%453,410+ 51.6%392Kia Sorento6,531+ 86.5%264,713+ 6.6%113Kia Carnival6,031+ 9.0%155,711– 3.0%224Kia Sportage5,755– 3.9%549,272– 4.4%445Hyundai Porter5,547+ 7.3%738,422– 20.4%866Hyundai Palisade5,232+ 242.2%342,268+ 217.3%6227Hyundai Grandeur5,139– 16.9%843,206– 5.8%558Kia Seltos4,238– 23.7%638,074– 5.4%979Hyundai Tucson3,873– 2.3%1034,555+ 7.5%101010Hyundai Sonata3,527– 44.2%1432,686– 4.1%11811Kia Ray3,484– 6.1%1132,522– 2.6%121112Hyundai Santa Fe3,303– 42.2%939,807– 21.5%7313Hyundai Staria3,246+ 10.0%1226,893+ 0.6%151414Kia K53,238+ 20.4%1623,537– 1.0%171815Kia Bongo3,168+ 6.0%1324,639– 15.6%161516Hyundai Kona3,013+ 41.1%1820,129+ 6.9%202017Genesis GV702,983– 23.1%1922,660+ 5.8%181718Renault Korea Grand Koleos2,903+ 6351.1%1529,042+ 64437.8%132119Genesis G802,826– 19.0%1727,813– 10.2%141220Genesis GV802,635+ 21.9%2221,289– 26.1%191621Kia EV32,317– 42.1%2117,041+ 185.1%222822Hyundai Bus/Truck2,202+ 44.6%2012,391n/a23n/a23Kia Morning2,080+ 128.6%369,505+ 1.9%262424Kia K81,976– 27.1%2319,140+ 17.1%211925Hyundai Ioniq 51,662+ 36.0%2410,041– 0.7%252626Hyundai Casper1,247– 75.2%3010,083– 65.0%241327Hyundai Nexo1,203+ 246.7%342,929+ 36.9%424128Kia EV41,124new255,886new32 –29Kia EV61,080+ 80.3%356,824– 5.8%303130Kia Niro1,062– 7.8%328,731– 19.1%272531KGM Musso EV1,040new265,354new35 –32KGM Actyon1,040+ 33.3%294,153+ 432.4%373733Chevrolet Trax Crossover993– 13.3%338,369– 35.5%282334Hyundai Ioniq 9926new315,671new33 –35Kia Tasman887new286,152new31 –36Hyundai Venue813+ 171.9%277,062+ 136.6%293937Genesis G90577+ 8.5%385,088– 8.2%363338Renault Korea SM6568+ 1570.6%55821+ 48.2%545039KGM Tivoli469– 18.2%413,287– 29.7%393540Renault Korea Arkana451– 22.1%403,250– 55.2%403241KGM Musso Sports445new432,502new43 –42Renault Korea QM6384– 42.9%423,062– 48.5%413443KGM Torres382– 58.3%395,482– 48.8%342744Kia Bus/Special288+ 161.8%451,224n/a4945KGM Torres EVX253– 32.9%481,532– 69.6%463646Hyundai Ioniq 6230– 43.2%373,800+ 35.3%383847KGM Musso Khan226new441,723new45 –48Hyundai ST1201+ 9.8%49951+ 65.1%524949Genesis G70199– 13.5%531,268– 23.2%484250Chevrolet Trailblazer185– 29.9%461,845– 38.8%444051KGM Rexton New Arena168+ 1.2%51913– 36.3%534652Kia PV5161new –161new58 –53Kia K9143– 19.2%501,117– 29.3%504454Kia EV9112+ 21.7%471,053– 28.8%514555Genesis GV6091+ 175.8%52534+ 29.6%555156Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech38new –48new61 –57Renault Korea Master34+ 70.0%54220– 4.8%575358KGM Korando32– 61.0%56360– 55.5%564759Chevrolet Colorado3– 96.5%5771– 68.2%5952

South Korea August 2025 – foreign models:

PosModelAug-25/24Jul2025/24PosFY241Tesla Model Y6,683+ 450.0%128,663+ 122.6%132BMW 5 Series1,993+ 78.3%216,010+ 25.2%323Mercedes E Class1,693– 24.3%316,626+ 31.3%214Tesla Model 31,291+ 40.2%55,720– 36.5%545Mercedes GLC653– 19.4%45,753+ 14.0%456Volvo XC60563+ 8.9%173,500– 11.3%1287BMW X5553+ 38.6%133,993– 1.2%978BMW 3 Series525– 15.0%64,017+ 21.2%8109BMW 7 Series524+ 79.5%113,525+ 34.1%111510BMW X3505– 21.0%74,317+ 21.1%61211Lexus ES495– 14.9%94,247– 7.4%7612Audi Q4 e-Tron444+ 41.9%122,385+ 9.4%202213Mercedes GLE442– 0.2%153,865– 0.9%101114Mercedes S Class352– 10.0%83,021– 8.8%15915Mini Cooper Hatch334+ 149.3%162,393+ 20.7%192116Lexus NX326– 16.4%103,109+ 31.6%141617BMW X7321+ 21.6%143,111+ 17.8%131418BMW X4316– 0.3%182,447– 5.3%181719BMW X6302+ 40.5%292,468+ 16.3%172020Audi Q6 e-tron290new46499newn/a –21Lexus RX255+ 83.5%231,527+ 28.0%293622Polestar 4252#DIV/0!331,520#DIV/0!30n/a23BMW X1234+ 146.3%301,718+ 43.6%263224BYD Atto 3230#DIV/0!251,764#DIV/0!25 –25Porsche Cayenne221+ 16.3%222,745+ 11.0%161926BMW 4 Series216+ 0.9%321,505+ 48.4%323827Ford Explorer205– 8.1%402,001+ 74.6%244028Volvo XC90203+ 52.6%211,083– 5.2%364229Volvo S90190+ 24.2%n/a907– 35.6%443030Mercedes C Class167– 16.1%312,081– 34.4%231831Porsche Macan167#DIV/0!35968+ 406.8%40n/a32Volvo XC40166– 20.2%391,642+ 2.8%272833Toyota RAV4165– 37.3%281,339– 28.8%342334Porsche Taycan160+ 154.0%261,302+ 308.2%354735Mercedes CLE158– 66.4%242,215+ 9.0%222536Toyota Camry158– 4.2%371,511+ 24.6%313137Mercedes G Class157+ 127.5%202,244+ 126.4%212638Range Rover Sport149+ 136.5%41943+ 70.8%42n/a39Mercedes GLS145– 8.8%n/a911– 8.2%434440Range Rover137– 13.8%48737– 30.6%463941BYD Seal136newn/a174newn/an/a42Toyota Alphard134+ 81.1%36975+ 146.2%39n/a43Toyota Sienna129+ 4.9%n/a548+ 19.7%n/a6044VW Golf123– 13.4%38510– 18.9%n/a4545Porsche Panamera121– 45.0%271,596+ 84.1%284346BMW iX121newn/a314newn/an/a47Toyota Prius118+ 21.6%49479– 23.4%n/an/a48Mini Electric109new47410newn/an/a49BMW i4101– 34.4%n/a176– 79.3%n/a4950Audi A597n/a42n/an/an/an/a

Source: KAIDA