The Kia PV5 is up to a record 4th place in South Korea in February.

The South Korean new vehicle market is down a harsh -7.3% year-on-year in February to 122,874 units. Indeed if foreign manufacturers are euphoric at +34.6% to 22.1% share, local carmakers sink -14.8% to 77.9% of the market. Year-to-date, thanks to a strong January sales are up 2% to 243,320 including 195,179 locals (-3.9%) and 48,141 foreigners (+35.9%).

For the 2nd month in a row, Kia (-8.6%) is above sister brand Hyundai (-14.7%) and cements its YTD dominance with 35% share vs. 33.5%. Tesla (+254.1%) is the performer of the month, breaking its records for ranking (#3) and share (6.4%). Genesis (-32.1%) is in complete freefall at #4 and falls to its lowest volume in almost 6 years: since March 2020. BMW (+0.6%) and Mercedes (+14.1%) follow, both defying the negative market while KG Mobility (+38.3%) surges ahead but drops one spot on last month to #7. Audi (+62.7%), Toyota (+27.3%) and Volkswagen (+20.2%) also shine while newcomer BYD is down two ranks on January to #12.

Looking at the domestic models ranking, the Kia Sorento (-15.2%) remains in 2nd place, followed this time by the Hyundai Porter (-10.4%) and Sonata (-3.2%). The surprise of the month is the 4th place of the new Kia PV5, up 23 ranks on last month and now #16 year-to-date vs. #45 over the Full Year 2025. The Hyundai Grandeur (-28.2%) rounds out the Top 5 in paltry fashion. The rare gainers this month are almost all BEVs and include the Hyundai Ioniq 9 (+867.4%), Ioniq 5 (+120.6%) and Kia EV3 (+53.7%).

Foreign models data will be uploaded when made available to us.

Previous month: South Korea January 2026: Kia topples Hyundai to #1, monopolises podium

One year ago: South Korea February 2025: Kia monopolises podium again but Hyundai #1

Full February 2026 Top 31 All brands and Top 55 All local models below.

South Korea February 2026 – brands:

PosBrandFeb-26%/25Jan2026%/25PosFY251Kia42,06634.2%– 8.6%185,19535.0%+ 0.9%122Hyundai40,06632.6%– 14.7%281,60333.5%– 3.1%213Tesla7,8686.4%+ 254.1%89,8344.0%+ 341.6%664Genesis6,9425.6%– 32.1%315,6136.4%– 18.0%335BMW6,3135.1%+ 0.6%412,5835.2%+ 2.9%446Mercedes5,3224.3%+ 14.1%510,4434.3%+ 23.5%557KG Mobility3,7013.0%+ 38.3%66,8882.8%+ 38.4%788Renault Korea2,0001.6%– 59.0%74,2391.7%– 43.3%879Lexus1,1130.9%– 16.8%92,5771.1%+ 4.6%91010Volvo1,0950.9%+ 4.7%112,1320.9%+ 2.5%11911Audi9910.8%+ 62.7%121,8380.8%+ 97.8%121212BYD9570.8%new102,3040.9%#DIV/0!101613GM Korea9090.7%– 38.7%131,6410.7%– 39.2%131114Toyota7930.6%+ 27.3%151,4150.6%+ 34.4%141415Volkswagen6000.5%+ 20.2%188170.3%+ 30.1%171816Mini5100.4%– 5.2%161,0770.4%+ 39.5%161517Porsche4940.4%– 29.7%141,1960.5%– 11.2%151318Land Rover3860.3%– 12.7%176100.3%– 20.5%181719Polestar2430.2%+ 242.3%272700.1%+ 55.2%192020GMC1230.1%+ 485.7%221850.1%+ 428.6%213021Jeep1020.1%– 8.1%192190.1%– 5.2%202122Peugeot790.1%+ 97.5%241120.0%+ 43.6%242423Ford660.1%– 83.2%211300.1%– 82.9%221924Bentley400.0%+ 53.8%25680.0%+ 88.9%262725Honda230.0%– 92.3%201270.1%– 73.3%232226Cadillac230.0%– 8.0%23730.0%+ 43.1%252527Rolls-Royce170.0%+ 30.8%30280.0%+ 40.0%293128Lincoln150.0%– 87.4%28380.0%– 85.0%282329Ferrari130.0%– 53.6%26400.0%– 33.3%272830Lamborghini40.0%– 88.6%29250.0%– 73.1%302631Maserati00.0%– 100.0%3100.0%– 100.0%3129 –Total local manufacturers95,68477.9%– 14.8% –195,17980.2%– 3.9% – – –Total foreign manufacturers27,19022.1%+ 34.6% –48,14119.8%+ 35.9% – – –Total market122,874100.0%– 7.3% –243,320100.0%+ 2.0% – –

South Korea February 2026 – local models:

PosModelFeb-26/25Jan2026/25PosFY251Kia Sorento7,693– 15.2%116,081– 2.7%112Hyundai Porter4,634– 10.4%127,954– 6.5%883Hyundai Sonata4,436– 3.2%59,579+ 16.7%3114Kia PV53,967new274,993new16455Hyundai Grandeur3,933– 28.2%68,949– 20.0%556Kia Sportage3,800– 42.1%29,815– 25.2%247Kia Carnival3,712– 52.0%38,990– 34.9%438Hyundai Avante3,628– 42.4%48,872– 24.6%629Kia EV33,469+ 53.7%304,206+ 56.6%192210Kia Ray3,241– 24.4%87,687– 5.8%91211Hyundai Ioniq 53,227+ 120.6%403,541+ 130.2%222612Hyundai Palisade3,081– 19.8%78,075+ 26.9%7613Hyundai Tucson2,972– 37.2%97,241– 13.5%101014Hyundai Kona2,876+ 28.7%136,039+ 38.0%121915Hyundai Santa Fe2,679– 47.2%116,058– 38.8%11716Kia Bongo2,607– 20.5%175,032– 11.7%151717Kia EV52,524new293,371new244918Genesis G802,247– 44.2%145,240– 22.4%131319Kia K52,175– 13.1%154,927– 3.1%171620Genesis GV702,090– 24.0%164,792– 12.7%181821Kia EV41,874new362,270new313422Hyundai Staria1,781– 40.7%194,109– 25.1%201523Hyundai Ioniq 91,751+ 867.4%421,975+ 991.2%323324Genesis GV801,689– 36.1%184,075– 23.6%212025Hyundai Ioniq 61,571+ 354.0%411,816+ 407.3%334226Renault Korea Grand Koleos1,474– 64.1%243,137– 49.0%271427Kia Seltos1,430– 70.0%105,128– 43.7%14928KGM Musso1,393new262,516new294429Kia K81,384– 43.7%203,519– 26.0%232130Kia Niro1,378+ 61.4%223,369+ 136.4%252731Hyundai Casper1,171– 9.4%252,299+ 3.6%302432Kia Morning1,141+ 49.2%213,228+ 43.5%262533Hyundai Bus/Truck1,122– 12.5%232,891+ 29.3%282334Kia EV61,000– 9.1%431,214+ 3.6%373035KGM Musso EV842new331,369new363736Chevrolet Trax Crossover771– 31.2%321,378– 33.5%352937Hyundai Venue532– 23.7%281,423+ 2.3%342838KGM Actyon511+ 43.9%311,143+ 37.2%383539Genesis G90509– 18.9%34998– 15.6%393640KGM Tivoli500+ 16.3%39867+ 19.9%404141Hyundai Nexo467+ 88.3%49552+ 102.9%443942Renault Korea Arkana336+ 29.2%38705+ 32.5%424043Kia Tasman328new37704new433244KGM Torres301– 48.0%35728– 35.3%413145Hyundai ST1205+ 2.0%52230+ 10.6%495546Genesis G70169+ 4.3%50252– 6.3%485047Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech150new44357new455948Kia Bus/Special149+ 29.6%46284+ 31.5%464649Chevrolet Trailblazer138– 54.3%47259– 48.3%474850Genesis GV60122+ 662.5%54140+ 677.8%535851Kia EV9113+ 28.4%51153+ 22.4%525352Kia K981– 50.6%45224– 22.0%505453KGM Rexton New Arena77– 18.9%48164– 19.6%515754KGM Torres EVX77– 82.5%53101– 77.7%545255Renault Korea Filante40new –40new55 –56Chevrolet Colorado0– 100.0%554– 83.3%5663

Source: KAIDA