Tesla sales are up 3-fold in South Korea.

After surging 20.8% last month, the South Korea new light vehicle market is back to earth in October at a painful -12.9% YoY to 126,747 units. This is entirely the fault of domestic models off -17.3% to 102,685 and 81% share just as foreigners gain 13.2% to 24,062 and 19% share. The year-to-date tally remains in positive however at +3.2% to 1,385,108 including 1,135,920 domestic models (+0.8%) and 249,188 foreigners (+15.4%). The Top 3 brands (all domestic) are hit hard: Hyundai is off -17.5%, Kia down -13.1% and Genesis drops -15%. In contrast BMW (+1%) edges up and gains two spots on last month to #4. It distances Mercedes (-9.2%) and Tesla (+244.4%) posting another fantastic result. Newcomer BYD breaks its ranking (#12) and share (0.7%) records.

The BYD Sealion 7 is among the Top 10 best-selling foreign models in October.

Over in the domestic models ranking, the Kia Sorento (-14.7%) skids but delivers a 21st win in the past 26 months and easily stays on top year-to-date. The Hyundai Avante (+0.4%) is stable and repeats at #2, a ranking it now also holds year-to-date, passing the Kia Carnival (-20%) down to #6 for the month. The Hyundai Grandeur (-31.7%), Santa Fe (-33.4%) and Sonata (-8.8%) complete the Top 5. The Hyundai Palisade (+152.4%) continues to benefit from the new generation but is stuck in 10th place vs. #7 through October. Other great gainers below include the Hyundai Kona (+26.7%), Genesis GV80 (+40.5%) and Kia Morning (+40.8%). The new Kia PV5 is up 13 spots on last month to #24 while the Kia Tasman disappoints at #37.

Looking at foreign models, the Tesla Model Y (+290.3%) continues to surge ahead, fuelling most of the foreign carmakers growth. The Mercedes E Class (-2.1%) and BMW 5 Series (-14%) round out the podium as they do year-to-date, with the Mercedes GLE (+121%) and GLC (-2.5%) in tow. The BMW X3 (+124%) and Tesla Model 3 (+110.6%) stun in the remainder of the Top 10, while the BMW 3 Series (+45.6%) is also very strong. Notably, the new BYD Sealion 7 posts a 2nd Top 10 finish in a row but is down 5 ranks on last month to #10.

Previous month: South Korea September 2025: Market up 20.8%, Tesla breaks records, Kia EV5 lands

One year ago: South Korea October 2024: Kia Seltos breaks record, Renault Grand Koleos inside Top 10

Full October 2025 Top 31 All brands, Top 63 All domestic models and Top 50 foreign models below.

South Korea October 2025 – brands:

PosBrandOct-25%/24Sep2025%/24PosFY241Hyundai44,76235.3%– 17.5%1492,03035.5%+ 4.6%112Kia40,34431.8%– 13.1%2455,45232.9%+ 0.4%223Genesis9,0607.1%– 15.0%397,2507.0%– 14.0%334BMW6,1774.9%+ 1.0%664,0154.6%+ 5.7%445Mercedes5,8384.6%– 9.2%554,1213.9%– 0.6%556Tesla4,3503.4%+ 244.4%447,9623.5%+ 92.8%687Renault Korea3,8103.0%– 40.4%743,9253.2%+ 72.7%778KG Mobility3,5372.8%– 21.5%834,4792.5%– 16.3%869Volvo1,4351.1%+ 23.6%1111,9290.9%– 2.9%111010Lexus1,2261.0%– 4.4%1012,8550.9%+ 12.0%91111GM Korea1,1720.9%– 40.6%1212,7840.9%– 39.7%10912BYD8240.7%new133,7910.3%new193013Toyota8130.6%+ 7.8%147,8870.6%+ 0.9%141214Audi6890.5%– 26.9%99,5470.7%+ 27.8%121315Mini6570.5%+ 22.1%166,2620.5%– 0.2%151616Porsche5940.5%– 15.3%158,9390.6%+ 32.5%131417Polestar2860.2%+ 1330.0%182,5130.2%+ 484.4%202318Land Rover2590.2%– 15.1%174,3240.3%+ 22.1%161719Ford2160.2%+ 30.9%193,8550.3%+ 23.7%181820Volkswagen1430.1%– 80.7%214,0480.3%– 39.2%171521Jeep1270.1%– 30.6%201,6230.1%– 26.8%211922Honda870.1%– 27.5%261,5710.1%– 24.9%222023Peugeot740.1%+ 111.4%227890.1%+ 0.3%242224Cadillac710.1%+ 34.0%236140.0%+ 6.2%252425Bentley450.0%+ 25.0%252920.0%– 0.3%282626Lincoln420.0%– 72.7%241,0160.1%– 48.6%232127Lamborghini310.0%– 36.7%273600.0%– 3.2%262528Maserati230.0%+ 43.8%292210.0%+ 0.9%292829GMC230.0%– 36.1%302080.0%– 25.7%302730Ferrari220.0%n/a282950.0%n/a273131Rolls-Royce100.0%– 33.3%311510.0%+ 0.7%3129 –Total local manufacturers102,68581.0%– 17.3% –1,135,92082.0%+ 0.8% – – –Total foreign manufacturers24,06219.0%+ 13.2% –249,18818.0%+ 15.4% – – –Total market126,747100.0%– 12.9% –1,385,108100.0%+ 3.2% – –

South Korea October 2025 – domestic models:

PosModelOct-25/24Sep2025/24PosFY241Kia Sorento6,788– 14.7%180,479+ 6.9%112Hyundai Avante6,014+ 0.4%267,099+ 49.2%293Hyundai Grandeur5,074– 31.7%653,678– 9.6%554Hyundai Santa Fe4,861– 33.4%550,431– 20.4%635Hyundai Sonata4,603– 8.8%1042,076– 4.4%1186Kia Carnival4,515– 20.0%366,984– 1.5%327Kia Sportage4,055– 26.7%459,743– 3.0%448Hyundai Porter3,979– 31.2%747,726– 18.4%869Hyundai Tucson3,909– 38.6%843,594+ 1.2%101010Hyundai Palisade3,829+ 152.4%1150,167+ 203.3%72211Kia Ray3,382+ 3.2%1239,907– 0.3%121112Kia Seltos3,365– 50.7%946,404– 9.9%9713Kia K53,045+ 0.5%1629,709+ 2.1%171814Hyundai Kona2,951+ 26.7%1326,666+ 12.0%202015Genesis G802,940– 25.6%1434,107– 12.2%141216Renault Korea Grand Koleos2,934– 45.5%1834,995+ 275.1%132117Genesis GV802,850+ 40.5%2126,703– 20.2%191618Kia Bongo2,847– 10.6%1530,714– 12.1%161519Genesis GV702,512– 36.4%1927,963– 2.6%181720Hyundai Staria2,420– 35.4%1732,414– 3.7%151421Kia K82,129– 57.2%2323,428– 10.0%211922Hyundai Bus/Truck2,096+ 28.9%2017,222n/a23n/a23Kia Morning2,062+ 40.8%2613,372+ 13.7%262424Kia PV51,814new372,647new44 –25Hyundai Casper1,482– 59.1%2413,709– 62.3%241326Kia EV31,423– 32.5%2520,391+ 101.8%222827Kia EV51,150new471,422new52 –28Kia Niro1,128+ 17.4%3210,907– 13.6%272529Hyundai Ioniq 51,109+ 4.2%2213,419+ 8.7%252630Chevrolet Trax Crossover959– 36.7%3310,340– 35.1%282331KGM Torres957+ 32.2%387,102– 41.2%342732Kia EV6747+ 34.1%278,893+ 9.4%293133KGM Actyon701– 52.7%315,911+ 49.7%373734Hyundai Ioniq 9667new287,610new32 –35Kia EV4654new307,691new31 –36Hyundai Nexo646+ 251.1%294,814+ 85.7%394137Kia Tasman611new367,540new33 –38KGM Musso EV581new356,892new35 –39Hyundai Venue556+ 26.7%348,620+ 124.8%303940KGM Tivoli506– 19.9%424,294– 26.3%403541Genesis G90492– 10.5%406,155– 7.3%363342Renault Korea Arkana447+ 29.2%414,227– 48.3%413243Kia Bus/Special438+ 253.2%451,999#DIV/0!47 –44Renault Korea QM6391– 32.8%433,879– 44.6%423445Hyundai Ioniq 6367– 57.6%394,824+ 19.3%383846KGM Musso Sports335new443,224new43 –47KGM Musso Khan231new482,194new46 –48Hyundai ST1199+ 126.1%461,460+ 90.6%514949Chevrolet Trailblazer181– 40.8%492,216– 39.2%454050Kia EV9144– 9.4%521,344– 23.6%534551Genesis G70127– 5.2%501,568– 21.1%494252KGM Rexton New Arena125– 5.3%551,140– 33.0%554653Genesis GV6088+ 109.5%56703+ 44.1%565154KGM Torres EVX81– 76.7%511,773– 68.8%483655Kia K947– 63.0%541,273– 31.9%544456Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech22new57120new60 –57KGM Korando20– 75.6%58413– 56.1%574758Renault Korea SM616– 66.7%59353– 44.4%585059Chevrolet Colorado14– 48.1%6089– 72.0%615260Chevrolet Tahoe11– 21.4% –43– 57.8%635561Chevrolet Traverse4– 95.2%6159– 93.3%624862Chevrolet Equinox2n/a –7– 41.7%665863Chevrolet Bolt EUV1– 50.0% –1– 95.0%6757

South Korea October 2025 – foreign models:

PosModelOct-25/24Sep2025/24PosFY241Tesla Model Y3,712+ 290.3%140,736+ 178.6%132Mercedes E Class2,489– 2.1%222,388+ 11.2%213BMW 5 Series1,783– 14.0%319,989+ 18.6%324Mercedes GLE758+ 121.0%75,315+ 12.2%8115Mercedes GLC752– 2.5%47,405+ 8.7%456BMW 3 Series667+ 45.6%135,240+ 19.3%9107Tesla Model 3636+ 110.6%67,064– 28.2%548Lexus ES614– 8.8%95,475– 6.6%769BMW X3607+ 124.0%125,501+ 22.9%61210BYD Sealion 7513new51,341new38 –11BMW X5507+ 29.0%105,106+ 3.4%10712Volvo XC60468– 11.9%84,588– 8.3%11813Mercedes S Class456– 21.6%143,969– 13.3%13914BMW 7 Series386+ 112.1%154,304+ 33.3%121515BMW X7371+ 6.3%183,820+ 12.5%141416Volvo XC40363+ 83.3%242,295+ 9.6%252817BMW X4303– 9.8%223,055– 6.7%171718Volvo S90289+ 149.1%n/a1,290– 20.7%423019Mini Cooper Hatch286– 19.4%173,035+ 21.0%182120Polestar 4286+ 1330.0%162,167n/a27n/a21BYD Atto 3264new422,173new26 –22Mercedes CLE262+ 45.6%262,756+ 12.0%212523BMW X6233– 31.1%213,009+ 6.4%192024BMW i5233+ 1194.4%n/a1,299+ 15.4%40n/a25Toyota RAV4226– 8.9%321,772– 25.1%332326Lexus NX219– 39.0%193,652+ 15.8%151627Mercedes GLS216+ 62.4%301,343– 1.1%374428BMW 4 Series202+ 12.8%361,883+ 37.0%313829BMW X1188+ 37.2%292,122+ 38.9%283230Toyota Camry185+ 72.9%311,909+ 31.4%303131Mercedes G Class184– 41.6%282,651+ 71.0%222632Lexus RX176+ 93.4%251,985+ 38.4%293633Mercedes C Class175– 12.1%392,415– 30.9%231834Porsche Taycan171+ 39.0%441,608+ 117.3%344735Porsche Cayenne163– 53.4%233,201+ 3.2%161936Volvo XC90159+ 40.7%341,440+ 6.4%364237Toyota Alphard156+ 69.6%381,291+ 126.5%41n/a38Audi Q5154– 38.9%47n/an/an/an/a39Ford Explorer138+ 2200.0%272,385+ 87.1%244040Mini Electric138new41699newn/an/a41Audi A5131new50n/anewn/an/a42Mini Countryman125– 26.5%431,336– 42.6%392443VW Atlas110newn/an/an/an/an/a44Porsche Macan EV106new371,249new43n/a45Lexus UX100– 16.0%n/an/an/an/an/a46Porsche Panamera91– 16.5%451,808+ 63.0%324347Jeep Wrangler84– 38.7%n/a790– 22.1%494648Audi A383n/an/an/an/an/an/a49Toyota Sienna82+ 0.0%n/a720+ 33.3%506050BMW i482– 51.2%n/an/an/an/a49

Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers