The Renault Filante is up to #9 for its first full month in market.

Excellent result for new light vehicle sales in South Korea with March volumes up 10.2% year-on-year to 164,393 units. This includes 130,529 local manufacturers (+5.3%) and 33,964 foreigners (+34.6%). Over Q1, the market is up 5.2% to 407,713 including 325,608 locals (-0.4%) and 82,105 foreigners (+35.4%). For the third straight month, Kia (+12.7%) outsells sister brand Hyundai (-2.1%) with 34.3% share vs. 31.3%. Kia commands 34.7% of its home market YTD vs. 32.6% for Hyundai. Tesla (+329.6%) repeats at #3 and breaks its volume (11,130) and share (6.8%) records, previous bests having been established just last month. Genesis (-1.4%) is back from the brink and surpasses 10,000 units for the first time since last November. BYD (+16540%) celebrates one year in market with a record 9th place.

Looking at domestic models, the Kia Sorento (+7%) snaps the top spot for the 16th time in the past 19 months and sees its YTD sales back in positive at +1%. The Hyundai Grandeur (+21.9%) climbs up to #2 both for the month and YTD, followed by the Hyundai Porter (+5.3%) and Sonata (+26.1%) both down one spot on last month. The Kia Seltos (-6.9%) is back up 19 ranks on February to #8. But the surprise of the month is to be found below: the all new Renault Korea Filante is up 46 spots on last month to end March inside the Top 10 at #9. For reference, the brand’s previous success, the Grand Koleos (-75.5%), now cannibalised, peaked at #5 in November 2024. The Kia EV5 (#16), PV5 (#17) and EV4 (#27) are the next best-selling recent launches.

As for foreign models, Tesla manages a 1-2 for the first time with the Model Y (+3691.6%) in first place and the Model 3 (+57.9%) at #2. Note the Model Y would rank #3 in the overall charts when including domestic models. The Mercedes E Class (-24.1%) and BMW 5 Series (-7.2%) struggle below and each drop one rank on February to #3 and #4. The new BYD Sealion 7 cracks the Top 5 for the 2nd time after September 2025. The Polestar 4 (+122.8%) soars to #7 while the BYD Dolphin breaks into the Top 10 at #9 for what is its first appearance inside the Top 50.

Previous month: South Korea February 2026: Tesla breaks records, Kia PV5 up to #4

One year ago: South Korea March 2025: Hyundai and Kia Sorento #1, BYD and Kia Tasman land

Full March 2026 Top 30 All brands, Top 58 All local models and Top 50 foreigners below.

South Korea March 2026 – brands:

PosBrandMar-26%/25Feb2026%/25PosFY251Kia56,46834.3%+ 12.7%1141,66334.7%+ 5.3%122Hyundai51,40431.3%– 2.1%2133,00732.6%– 2.7%213Tesla11,1306.8%+ 329.6%320,9645.1%+ 335.1%464Genesis10,4466.4%– 1.4%426,0596.4%– 12.1%335BMW6,7854.1%+ 6.4%519,3684.8%+ 4.1%546Renault Korea6,6304.0%+ 8.4%810,8692.7%– 20.1%877Mercedes5,4193.3%– 19.9%615,8623.9%+ 4.3%658KGM4,5822.8%+ 42.8%711,4702.8%+ 40.2%789BYD1,6641.0%+ 16540.0%123,9681.0%+ 39580.0%91610Volvo1,4960.9%+ 5.1%103,6280.9%+ 3.6%11911Audi1,3000.8%+ 18.2%113,1380.8%+ 54.7%121212Lexus1,1780.7%– 16.7%93,7550.9%– 3.1%101013Porsche9110.6%– 16.5%172,1070.5%– 13.6%151314GM Korea8990.5%– 34.5%132,5400.6%– 37.6%131115Mini8780.5%+ 41.6%161,9550.5%+ 40.4%161516Toyota7380.4%– 28.6%142,1530.5%+ 3.2%141417Land Rover7270.4%+ 38.0%181,3370.3%+ 3.3%171718Polestar6840.4%+ 122.8%199540.2%+ 98.3%192019Volkswagen4760.3%– 18.5%151,2930.3%+ 6.7%181820Jeep1020.1%– 41.4%213210.1%– 20.7%202121GMC1000.1%+ 284.6%202850.1%+ 367.2%213022Honda840.1%– 63.3%252110.1%– 70.0%222223Cadillac750.0%+ 56.3%261480.0%+ 49.5%252524Peugeot720.0%– 5.3%221840.0%+ 19.5%232425Ford350.0%– 93.8%231650.0%– 87.5%241926Bentley310.0%+ 121.4%24990.0%+ 98.0%262727Lamborghini260.0%+ 30.0%30510.0%– 54.9%292628Lincoln200.0%– 85.0%28580.0%– 85.0%282329Ferrari180.0%– 59.1%29580.0%– 44.2%272830Rolls-Royce150.0%– 16.7%27430.0%+ 13.2%3031 –Total local manufacturers130,42979.3%+ 5.3% –325,60879.9%– 0.4% – – –Total foreign manufacturers33,96420.7%+ 34.6% –82,10520.1%+ 35.4% – – –Total market164,393100.0%+ 10.2% –407,713100.0%+ 5.2% – –

South Korea March 2026 – domestic models:

PosModelMar-26/25Feb2026/25PosFY251Kia Sorento10,870+ 7.0%126,951+ 1.0%112Hyundai Grandeur7,574+ 21.9%516,523– 5.1%253Hyundai Porter5,955+ 5.3%213,909– 1.8%784Hyundai Sonata5,786+ 26.1%315,365+ 20.1%3115Kia Sportage5,540– 16.3%615,355– 22.2%446Hyundai Avante5,479– 19.8%814,351– 22.8%627Kia Carnival5,407– 29.9%714,397– 33.1%538Kia Seltos4,983– 6.9%2710,111– 30.1%1299Renault Korea Filante4,920new554,960new25 –10Kia EV34,468+ 47.4%98,674+ 51.7%152211Kia Ray4,238– 7.5%1011,925– 6.4%81212Hyundai Kona4,104+ 43.0%1410,143+ 40.0%111913Genesis G804,001+ 3.9%189,241– 12.9%141314Hyundai Tucson3,915– 13.7%1311,156– 13.6%91015Hyundai Santa Fe3,621– 35.2%159,679– 37.5%13716Kia EV53,513new176,884new214917Kia PV53,093new48,086new164518Kia K53,067+ 7.1%197,994+ 0.6%171619Genesis GV702,981– 4.0%207,773– 9.6%191820Kia Bongo2,873– 16.0%167,905– 13.3%181721Hyundai Staria2,797– 24.8%226,906– 25.0%201522Genesis GV802,538– 13.3%246,613– 20.0%222023Hyundai Ioniq 52,410+ 113.5%115,951+ 123.1%232624Kia K82,252– 16.7%295,771– 22.6%242125Hyundai Palisade2,134– 53.8%1210,209– 7.0%10626KGM Musso1,854+ 564.5%284,370+ 1466.3%294427Kia EV41,809new214,079new313428Hyundai Casper1,804– 10.9%314,103– 3.3%302429Hyundai Bus/Truck1,488– 2.4%334,379+ 16.4%282330Kia Morning1,428+ 146.6%324,656+ 64.6%262531Kia EV61,296+ 11.4%342,510+ 7.5%353032Renault Korea Grand Koleos1,271– 75.5%264,408– 61.1%271433Hyundai Ioniq 91,239+ 58.0%233,214+ 233.1%333334Hyundai Venue1,068+ 83.2%372,491+ 26.2%362835Hyundai Nexo1,025+ 246.3%411,577+ 177.6%413936Hyundai Ioniq 6862+ 54.5%252,678+ 192.4%344237KGM Musso EV784+ 49.0%352,153+ 309.3%373738Chevrolet Trax Crossover725– 33.9%362,103– 33.7%382939KGM Actyon676+ 118.1%381,819+ 59.1%393540Genesis G90635+ 13.6%391,633– 6.2%403641Kia Niro568– 51.7%303,937+ 51.4%322742KGM Torres519– 50.9%441,247– 42.9%433143KGM Tivoli492+ 26.2%401,359+ 22.1%424144Renault Korea Arkana438+ 16.8%421,143+ 26.0%444045Kia Tasman400+ 316.7%431,104+ 1050.0%453246Kia EV9351+ 73.8%51504+ 54.1%465347Kia Bus/Special201+ 55.8%48485+ 40.6%474648Genesis G70191+ 32.6%46443+ 7.3%485049KGM Torres EVX174– 34.1%54275– 61.6%535250Chevrolet Trailblazer165– 36.3%49424– 44.2%494851Hyundai ST1143+ 31.2%45373+ 17.7%505552Kia K9111– 50.9%52335– 34.7%525453Genesis GV6088+ 1366.7%50228+ 850.0%555854KGM Rexton New Arena81– 22.9%53245– 20.7%545755Genesis GV60 Magma12new –12new56 –56Chevrolet Colorado8– 38.5% –12– 67.6%576357KGM Korando2– 95.1% –2– 98.6%586058Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech1new47358new5159

South Korea March 2026 – foreign models:

PosModelMar-26/25Feb2026/25PosFY251Tesla Model Y6,749+ 3691.6%115,323+ 590.8%112Tesla Model 33,702+ 57.9%44,550+ 85.5%453Mercedes E Class2,341– 24.1%26,835+ 6.3%224BMW 5 Series1,900– 7.2%35,624+ 1.0%335BYD Sealion 7807new82,084new6256Mercedes GLE798+ 49.4%61,973+ 58.9%767Polestar 4684+ 122.8%25952+ 97.9%18268Mercedes GLC681+ 0.7%52,313+ 13.2%549BYD Dolphin652newn/a727new24 –10BMW X5646+ 52.7%91,836+ 25.1%91011BMW X3641+ 10.3%71,973+ 15.0%8812Volvo XC60599+ 44.0%121,385+ 5.5%131113BMW 3 Series580+ 42.5%101,683+ 34.6%10914Audi Q4 e-Tron462– 4.7%43618– 21.2%282315Mini Cooper Hatch458+ 53.7%181,023+ 43.5%171516Tesla Model X458#DIV/0!n/a684+ 13580.0%26n/a17BMW 7 Series414– 11.3%111,430+ 6.9%121318BMW X7407– 5.3%131,178– 4.0%151419Audi Q5385n/a23743n/a23n/a20BMW i5355+ 110.1%17828+ 126.8%213621Lexus ES351– 39.8%141,221– 33.5%14722Lexus NX349– 20.3%161,481+ 35.0%111823Porsche Taycan340+ 38.8%33719+ 47.6%253524Lexus RX315+ 72.1%21600+ 33.9%293325Mercedes S Class297– 36.0%191,045– 5.0%161226Mercedes CLE280– 8.2%20840– 7.2%192027BMW X6269– 20.2%22840– 15.7%201928Toyota Camry241– 19.4%24594– 7.9%313129BMW X4239– 16.4%26667– 20.6%271630VW ID.4234– 42.5%15597– 23.9%304331BMW X1227+ 0.9%32539– 15.5%342832Range Rover Sport227+ 95.7%41369+ 33.7%424533Tesla Model S220+ 1122.2%n/a365+ 1927.8%44n/a34Volvo XC40207– 14.5%28563– 15.6%332435Volvo EX30179– 62.6%n/a223– 58.9%n/a4736Volvo XC90178+ 67.9%27589+ 106.7%323837Land Rover Defender175+ 16.7%45378+ 8.9%394938BYD Seal174new37367new43n/a39Volvo S90172n/a29515+ 78.8%353940Range Rover172+ 63.8%49345– 2.0%n/a4441Audi A3166+ 435.5%31485+ 722.0%36n/a42Porsche Cayenne163– 52.5%n/a376– 53.2%401743BMW 4 Series159– 12.2%34432– 11.3%383244Mini Electric151newn/a310newn/an/a45Mercedes EQB150+ 552.2%50316+ 919.4%n/an/a46Porsche Panamera149– 44.8%40443– 36.4%373447Toyota Alphard141+ 10.2%n/a370+ 26.7%414248Mercedes A Class140– 22.7%39342– 13.0%n/an/a49Porsche 911138+ 76.9%n/a360+ 361.5%n/an/a50Porsche Macan EV121– 7.6%n/a171– 21.6%n/a41

Source: KAIDA