The Tesla Model Y sells over 10,000 units in April.

The South Korean new light vehicle market edges up 0.8% year-on-year in April to 151,340 units, however this small gain has everything to do with foreign brands up 58.1% to 33,989 and 22.5% share whereas domestic brands fall -8.8% to 117,351. More precisely, the market is up thanks solely to Tesla up 811.5% to break its records for the third month in a row to 13,190 sales and 8.7% share. Meanwhile Kia (+7.9%) extends its now seemingly unassailable lead over sister brand Hyundai (-15.8%) to almost 8,000 units for the month and just above 16,500 units year-to-date. In 4th place below Tesla, Genesis (-40.3%) is in complete freefall and endures its lowest monthly volume in over 6 years: since March 2020. BYD (+272.6%) crosses the 2,000 monthly sales mark for the first time, reaching an all time high 9th place with 1.3% share.

In the domestic models ranking, the Kia Sorento (+37.3%) surges ahead to break its volume record for the 2nd month running at over 12,000 sales. The Hyundai Grandeur (+8.9%) is far below while the Hyundai Sonata (+22.4%) closes out the podium with a strong YoY gain. The Hyundai Avante (-22.9%), Kia Carnival (-34.2%) and Kia Sportage (-25.8%) follow and all sink. Meanwhile at #7 the Kia Ray (+14.4%) reaches an all time high ranking, also hit in August 2023 and February 2024. The Kia EV3 (+27.5%) also impresses and stays within the Top 10 at #10. The Kia EV5 (#15) is the best-selling recent launch ahead of the Kia PV5 (#21) and Renault Filante (#22).

Looking at foreign models, the Tesla Model Y (+1154.5%!) crosses the 10,000 monthly sales milestone and ranks #2 in the overall models charts including domestic vehicles. The Tesla Model 3 (+306.9%) also surges ahead and repeats at #2, followed by the BMW 5 Series (-7.5%) and Mercedes E Class (-22.2%) both in difficulty. The new BYD Dolphin advances to a record 5th place ahead of the BMW X3 (+53.1%), Polestar 4 (+277.1%) and Mercedes GLE (+23.3%), all sporting fantastic scores. The new BYD Sealion 7 lodges an 8th straight Top 10 finish at #9. 

Previous month: South Korea March 2026: BYD breaks records again, Renault Filante in Top 10

One year ago: South Korea April 2025: New gen pushes Hyundai Palisade to #4, Kia EV4 lands

Full April 2026 Top 30 All brands, Top 58 All domestic models and Top 50 foreign models below.

South Korea April 2026 – brands:

PosBrandApr-26%/25Mar2026%/25PosFY251Kia55,10836.4%+ 7.9%1196,77135.2%+ 6.0%122Hyundai47,18331.2%– 15.8%2180,19032.2%– 6.5%213Tesla13,1908.7%+ 811.5%334,1546.1%+ 445.2%364Genesis6,8684.5%– 40.3%432,9275.9%– 20.0%435BMW6,6584.4%– 0.8%526,0264.7%+ 2.8%546Mercedes4,7963.2%– 2.3%720,6583.7%+ 2.7%657Renault Korea4,0252.7%– 23.4%614,8942.7%– 21.0%778KGM3,3822.2%– 4.6%814,8522.7%+ 26.6%889BYD2,0231.3%+ 272.6%95,9911.1%+ 983.4%91610Volvo1,1050.7%+ 3.5%104,7330.8%+ 3.5%11911Lexus1,0790.7%– 20.3%124,8340.9%– 7.6%101012Audi9180.6%+ 12.4%114,0560.7%+ 42.5%121213Toyota8290.5%– 5.8%162,9820.5%+ 0.5%141414GM Korea7850.5%– 39.6%143,3250.6%– 38.1%131115Mini6960.5%+ 5.3%152,6510.5%+ 29.1%161516Porsche6790.4%– 37.0%132,7860.5%– 20.7%151317Polestar6750.4%+ 257.1%181,6290.3%+ 143.1%182018Volkswagen4580.3%+ 107.2%191,7510.3%+ 22.2%171819Land Rover2730.2%– 18.5%171,6100.3%– 1.2%191720Lincoln1200.1%– 4.8%281780.0%– 65.2%262321Jeep1020.1%– 28.2%204230.1%– 22.7%202122GMC730.0%+ 247.6%213580.1%+ 336.6%213023Cadillac670.0%+ 0.0%232150.0%+ 29.5%242524Honda660.0%– 59.3%222770.0%– 68.0%222225Ford550.0%– 90.4%252200.0%– 88.4%231926Bentley400.0%+ 300.0%261390.0%+ 131.7%272727Lamborghini290.0%+ 107.1%27800.0%– 37.0%282628Peugeot280.0%– 71.1%242120.0%– 15.5%252429Ferrari170.0%– 34.6%29750.0%– 42.3%292830Rolls-Royce130.0%– 51.9%30560.0%– 13.8%3031 –Total local manufacturers117,35177.5%– 8.8% –442,95979.2%– 2.8% – – –Total foreign manufacturers33,98922.5%+ 58.1% –116,09420.8%+ 41.3% – – –Total market151,340100.0%+ 0.8% –559,053100.0%+ 3.9% – –

South Korea April 2026 – domestic models:

PosModelApr-26/25Mar2026/25PosFY251Kia Sorento12,078+ 37.3%139,029+ 10.0%112Hyundai Grandeur6,622+ 8.9%223,145– 1.4%253Hyundai Sonata5,754+ 22.4%421,119+ 20.7%3114Hyundai Avante5,475– 22.9%619,826– 22.8%525Kia Carnival4,995– 34.2%719,392– 33.4%636Kia Sportage4,972– 25.8%520,327– 23.1%447Kia Ray4,877+ 14.4%1116,802– 1.2%8128Hyundai Porter4,843– 9.8%318,752– 4.0%789Hyundai Santa Fe3,902– 38.6%1513,581– 37.8%12710Kia EV33,898+ 27.5%1012,572+ 43.3%142211Hyundai Tucson3,858– 26.1%1415,014– 17.2%91012Kia Seltos3,580– 29.8%813,691– 30.0%10913Hyundai Palisade3,422– 48.6%2513,631– 22.7%11614Kia Bongo3,335+ 1.0%2011,240– 9.5%161715Kia EV53,308new1610,192new194916Kia Morning3,186+ 209.9%307,842+ 103.4%232517Hyundai Staria3,039– 18.5%219,945– 23.1%201518Hyundai Kona2,559– 6.0%1212,702+ 27.5%131919Genesis G802,523– 41.9%1311,764– 21.3%151320Kia K52,366– 33.9%1810,360– 10.1%171621Kia PV52,262new1710,348new184522Renault Korea Filante2,139new97,099new26 –23Genesis GV702,068– 33.1%199,841– 15.8%211824Genesis GV801,693– 42.2%228,306– 25.8%222025Hyundai Ioniq 51,674+ 14.8%237,625+ 84.8%242626Hyundai Bus/Truck1,562+ 24.6%295,941+ 18.5%282327Renault Korea Grand Koleos1,550– 64.6%325,958– 62.1%271428Kia K81,461– 43.1%247,232– 27.9%252129Kia EV41,432+ 72.3%275,511+ 563.2%293430Kia Niro1,289– 24.9%415,226+ 21.1%322731Hyundai Ioniq 91,225+ 21.4%334,439+ 124.9%333332Hyundai Casper1,142– 21.5%285,245– 8.0%312433KGM Musso1,135+ 99.5%265,505+ 549.2%304434Kia EV61,062+ 34.6%313,572+ 14.3%343035Hyundai Venue1,061+ 39.6%343,552+ 29.9%352836KGM Musso EV810+ 12.7%372,963+ 138.0%373737Chevrolet Trax Crossover613– 43.2%382,716– 36.1%382938KGM Actyon520+ 101.6%392,339+ 67.0%393539Hyundai Ioniq 6475– 22.1%363,153+ 106.6%364240Hyundai Nexo441+ 418.8%352,018+ 209.0%413941KGM Tivoli415– 3.0%431,774+ 15.1%424142Genesis G90409– 48.0%402,042– 19.2%403643Kia EV9393+ 162.0%46897+ 88.1%465344Renault Korea Arkana336– 22.4%441,479+ 10.4%444045KGM Torres327– 66.9%421,574– 50.4%433146Kia Tasman302– 75.8%451,406+ 4.6%453247Kia Bus/Special193+ 43.0%47678+ 41.3%474648Chevrolet Trailblazer168– 19.6%50592– 38.9%484849Hyundai ST1129+ 12.2%51502+ 16.2%505550Kia K9119– 19.0%52454– 31.2%515451Genesis GV6094– 36.1%53322+ 88.3%555852KGM Rexton New Arena90– 27.4%54335– 22.6%545753KGM Torres EVX85+ 14.9%49360– 54.4%525254Genesis G7062– 70.5%48505– 18.9%495055Genesis GV60 Magma19new5531new56 –56Chevrolet Colorado4– 60.0%5616– 66.0%576357KGM Korando0– 100.0%572– 99.0%586058Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech0new58358new5359

South Korea April 2026 – foreign models:

PosModelApr-26/25Mar2026/25PosFY251Tesla Model Y10,086+ 1154.5%125,409+ 740.8%112Tesla Model 32,596+ 306.9%27,146+ 131.2%453BMW 5 Series1,887– 7.5%47,511– 1.3%334Mercedes E Class1,695– 22.2%38,530– 0.9%225BYD Dolphin800new91,527new17 –6BMW X3692+ 53.1%112,665+ 22.9%787Polestar 4675+ 277.1%71,627+ 146.5%14268Mercedes GLE640+ 23.3%62,613+ 48.4%869BYD Sealion 7621new52,705new62510Mercedes GLC597+ 92.6%82,910+ 23.7%5411BMW X5564– 5.7%102,400+ 16.2%91012BMW 3 Series553+ 11.7%132,236+ 28.1%10913BMW 7 Series445+ 12.1%171,875+ 8.1%111314Tesla Model X427+ 42600.0%161,111+ 18416.7%23n/a15BMW X7403– 8.4%181,581– 5.2%151416BYD Atto 3395– 27.3%n/a1,179+ 113.2%202217Audi Q4 e-Tron368+ 377.9%14986+ 14.5%262318Lexus NX363– 15.6%221,844+ 20.8%121819Volvo XC60359– 15.1%121,744+ 0.5%131120Lexus ES334– 41.3%211,555– 35.3%16721BMW i5319+ 104.5%201,147+ 120.2%213622Mini Cooper Hatch314– 10.8%151,337+ 25.5%191523Mercedes CLE305+ 18.2%261,145– 1.5%222024Mercedes G Class304– 9.0%n/a716– 34.4%342125Mercedes S Class298– 4.2%251,343– 4.8%181226Audi Q5289n/a191,032n/a25n/a27BMW X6261– 26.7%271,101– 18.6%241928Porsche Cayenne246– 54.1%42622– 53.6%371729Toyota Camry239+ 9.1%28833– 3.6%293130Lexus RX226+ 22.8%24826+ 30.7%303331BYD Seal207new38574new39n/a32VW ID.4196+ 625.9%30793– 2.2%314333BMW X1188– 24.2%31727– 17.9%332834Volvo XC90184+ 73.6%36773+ 97.7%323835BMW X4179– 43.4%29846– 26.8%281636Toyota Alphard174+ 11.5%47544+ 21.4%404237VW Golf169+ 89.9%n/a492+ 452.8%41n/a38BMW 4 Series164– 15.5%43596– 12.5%383239Porsche Taycan155+ 4.0%23874+ 37.4%273540Toyota Prius148+ 72.1%n/a410+ 74.5%46n/a41Mini Countryman146+ 14.1%n/an/an/an/a4042Volvo EX30145+ 25.0%35368– 44.1%504743Volvo S90144+ 58.2%39659+ 73.9%363944BMW iX1136+ 172.0%n/an/an/an/an/a45Volvo XC40133– 40.4%34696– 21.8%352446Mercedes EQB133+ 1562.5%45449+ 1051.3%43n/a47Toyota Crown132+ 207.0%n/a401+ 107.8%47n/a48Porsche Macan EV122+ 100.0%50n/an/an/a4149Mercedes EQE SUV119+ 65.3%n/an/an/an/an/a50BMW iX112– 1.8%n/a434+ 127.2%45n/a

Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers