The Kia Seltos climbs to #2 for the first time in the nameplate’s history.

In July, the South Korean new light vehicle market edges up 0.6% year-on-year to 138,895 units. This is solely due to foreign manufacturers up 14.4% to 30,976 whereas locals are actually down -2.8% to 107,919. Same situation year-to-date, with a tally up 2.3% to 984,251 including 769,262 locals (-3.5%) and 214,989 foreigners (+30.3%). Kia (+21.3%) delivers a 7th consecutive monthly win at 39.4% share vs. 35.7% year-to-date. The gap with Hyundai (-11.1%) is over 12,000 units for the month, a new record. Tesla (+39.1%) stays at a brilliant third place with 7.4% share, well above BMW (+0.7%). Local premium brand Genesis (-34%) implodes and needs fresh metal real soon. BYD (+874.7%) repeats at #7 but drops from a record 2.9% share last month to 2% now.

The Kia Ray is up to a record 6th place.

The Hyundai Grandeur (+93.6%) repeats at #1 but stays #2 in the year-to-date order, 15,000 units below the Kia Sorento (-12.8%), even though the latter is down to #4 for the month. In fact the Grandeur is the only Hyundai in the Top 6. The Kia Seltos (+50.9%) reaches a record 2nd place, only one month after notching its first podium ranking in its 84 months in market. The Carnival (-4.1%) follows at #3, the Sportage (-0.8%) at #5 and the Ray (+37.4%) at #6, a new ranking record for the nameplate. The Hyundai Sonata (+38.3%) and Kia EV3 (+57.7%) also shine in the remainder of the Top 10, while the new Kia EV5 hits a record #11. Sudden surge for the Kia Morning (+306.7%) up 4-fold to #12.

The Tesla Model Y is the overall best seller in South Korea in July.

Looking at the foreign models, we realise that the Tesla Model Y (+32.7%) is the overall best-seller (including local models) for the second time in the past three months after last May. It outsells the Hyundai Grandeur by 173 units. The BMW 5 Series (-6.8%) is back up one spot on June to #2 while the Tesla Model 3 (+91.9%) almost doubles its year-ago volume and gains 19 ranks to #3, the nameplate’s 4th podium ranking in the past five months. The Mercedes E Class (+3.3%) stays at #4, followed by two new BYDs: the Dolphin down three spots to #5 and the Sealion 7 repeating at #6. The Toyota RAV4 (+169.1%) finally sees the effects of its new generation at #9.

Previous month: South Korea June 2026: BYD smashes records

One year ago: South Korea July 2025: Kia Carnival topples Sorento to #1, Hyundai Palisade #3

Full July 2026 Top 30 All brands, Top 55 All local models and Top 50 foreign models below.

South Korea July 2026 – brands:

PosBrandJul-26%/25Jun2026%/25PosFY251Kia54,73539.4%+ 21.3%1351,21435.7%+ 9.0%122Hyundai42,68330.7%– 11.1%2312,37231.7%– 8.6%213Tesla10,2377.4%+ 39.1%366,3766.7%+ 149.8%364BMW6,5334.7%+ 0.7%545,6834.6%+ 2.0%545Genesis5,4303.9%– 34.0%452,4545.3%– 24.4%436Mercedes3,9592.9%– 11.5%633,7353.4%– 8.9%657BYD2,8462.0%+ 874.7%714,5211.5%+ 820.2%9168KGM2,6101.9%– 41.4%824,4172.5%+ 7.2%789Renault Korea1,7041.2%– 57.4%922,8912.3%– 28.6%8710Lexus1,4741.1%+ 7.7%119,2930.9%+ 3.7%101011Toyota1,3401.0%+ 72.0%136,5270.7%+ 23.6%131412Volvo9580.7%– 5.6%128,4280.9%+ 8.3%11913Audi9350.7%– 25.7%108,2720.8%+ 34.1%121214GM Korea7570.5%– 37.0%145,9140.6%– 35.9%141115Porsche6350.5%– 37.4%164,9570.5%– 26.9%151316Mini6320.5%– 12.7%154,7230.5%+ 14.0%161517Volkswagen4710.3%– 21.6%173,2750.3%– 0.3%171818Land Rover3080.2%– 21.6%192,7680.3%– 4.5%181719Polestar2480.2%+ 11.2%182,6600.3%+ 65.3%192020Jeep730.1%– 66.7%216200.1%– 46.0%202121Lamborghini610.0%+ 10.9%242760.0%+ 4.9%272622Cadillac420.0%– 32.3%273600.0%– 7.5%262523GMC410.0%+ 70.8%225180.1%+ 262.2%213024Lincoln390.0%– 68.0%253610.0%– 56.2%252325Bentley360.0%+ 38.5%262630.0%+ 85.2%282726Peugeot350.0%– 55.1%233630.0%– 31.1%242427Ford320.0%– 89.2%203670.0%– 87.5%231928Ferrari180.0%– 28.0%291330.0%– 36.4%292829Rolls-Royce120.0%– 20.0%30980.0%– 14.0%303130Honda110.0%– 92.3%284100.0%– 68.4%2222 –Total local manufacturers107,91977.7%– 2.8% –769,26278.2%– 3.5% – – –Total foreign manufacturers30,97622.3%+ 14.4% –214,98921.8%+ 30.3% – – –Total market138,895100.0%+ 0.6% –984,251100.0%+ 2.3% – –

South Korea July 2026 – local models:

PosModelJul-26/25Jun2026/25PosFY251Hyundai Grandeur8,532+ 93.6%146,922+ 23.3%252Kia Seltos7,427+ 50.9%330,972– 8.5%793Kia Carnival6,917– 4.1%437,119– 25.3%334Kia Sorento6,153– 12.8%261,579+ 5.8%115Kia Sportage5,381– 0.8%536,644– 15.8%446Kia Ray5,178+ 37.4%929,558+ 1.8%9127Hyundai Sonata4,584+ 38.3%634,923+ 19.8%5118Hyundai Porter4,280– 4.8%1130,235– 8.0%889Hyundai Santa Fe3,822– 10.1%1024,333– 33.3%10710Kia EV33,467+ 57.7%1821,898+ 48.7%122211Kia EV53,434new1319,399new154912Kia Morning3,408+ 306.7%2415,403+ 107.4%222513Hyundai Staria2,904– 20.0%1617,796– 24.7%191514Kia Bongo2,846– 19.1%1919,261– 10.3%161715Hyundai Kona2,756+ 6.3%1520,630+ 20.5%141916Hyundai Palisade2,624– 57.9%822,291– 39.8%11617Hyundai Avante2,545– 58.6%731,213– 31.8%6218Kia PV52,472new2217,472new204519Kia K52,362– 17.6%1418,109– 10.8%181620Hyundai Bus/Truck2,304+ 4.5%2112,836+ 26.0%252321Genesis G801,933– 30.6%1718,861– 24.5%171322Hyundai Ioniq 51,833+ 21.4%2713,727+ 63.8%232623Genesis GV701,700– 33.4%2015,767– 19.9%211824Hyundai Tucson1,376– 65.7%1221,858– 28.8%131025Genesis GV801,317– 38.9%2613,010– 30.3%242026Hyundai Casper1,307+ 5.0%289,573+ 8.3%292427Kia Niro1,307+ 26.3%259,768+ 27.4%282728Kia K81,259– 39.8%2312,224– 28.8%262129Hyundai Ioniq 91,215+ 6.9%318,454+ 78.2%333330Kia EV61,070+ 14.3%366,367+ 10.8%353031Hyundai Nexo960– 4.1%433,775+ 118.7%393932Hyundai Venue953– 25.1%336,531+ 4.5%342833Kia EV4849– 42.8%348,575+ 80.1%323434Renault Korea Grand Koleos728– 76.0%329,247– 64.6%301435KGM Musso EV615– 54.1%414,911+ 13.8%373736KGM Musso612+ 64.1%298,587+ 317.5%314437Hyundai Ioniq 6591– 4.1%375,566+ 55.9%364238Chevrolet Trax Crossover584– 41.7%354,790– 35.1%382939Renault Korea Filante537new3010,161new27 –40KGM Tivoli480+ 7.6%453,174+ 12.6%414141Kia EV9442+ 155.5%441,994+ 111.9%475342Kia Tasman442– 65.2%472,418– 54.1%453243Renault Korea Arkana439– 14.1%383,125+ 11.6%424044KGM Torres393– 23.1%392,774– 45.6%443145KGM Actyon383– 69.3%423,718+ 19.4%403546Genesis G90279– 51.8%463,087– 31.6%433647Kia Bus/Special264+ 16.3%402,283+ 143.9%464648Chevrolet Trailblazer173– 8.9%491,082– 34.8%484849Genesis GV60115+ 42.0%51691+ 56.0%525850KGM Torres EVX98– 39.5%53648– 49.3%535251Hyundai ST197– 23.6%54814+ 8.5%505552Genesis G7071+ 0.0%48856– 19.9%495053Kia K957– 49.6%50791– 18.8%515454KGM Rexton New Arena29– 72.9%52603– 19.1%545755Genesis GV60 Magma15new5566new56 –

South Korea July 2026 – foreign models:

PosModelJul-26/25Jun2026/25PosFY251Tesla Model Y8,705+ 32.7%152,064+ 136.9%112BMW 5 Series1,919– 6.8%313,756– 1.9%233Tesla Model 31,531+ 91.9%2210,392+ 134.6%454Mercedes E Class1,425+ 3.3%413,354– 10.6%325BYD Dolphin1,264new25,775new5 –6BYD Sealion 71,060new65,537new6257Mercedes GLC658– 21.7%55,349+ 4.9%748BMW X3629+ 15.4%114,656+ 22.1%889Toyota RAV4600+ 169.1%81,593+ 31.1%283010BMW X5586+ 41.5%154,023+ 16.9%101011Mercedes GLE508+ 40.7%94,188+ 22.3%9612Lexus NX501+ 9.2%133,294+ 18.4%121813BMW 3 Series457– 31.4%173,675+ 5.2%11914Volvo XC60448+ 29.5%252,894– 1.5%151115BMW 7 Series443– 2.4%213,118+ 3.9%131316Lexus ES409– 11.1%123,081– 17.9%14717Mini Cooper Hatch342– 3.4%242,335+ 13.4%181518BYD Atto 3333+ 31.1%142,114+ 37.8%192219Audi A6309n/a161,446+ 50.6%305120Mercedes G Class297+ 9.6%261,641– 21.4%262121BMW X7293– 20.6%282,534– 9.2%171422Lexus RX293+ 14.0%311,607+ 26.3%273323BMW i5266+ 52.9%291,947+ 94.3%233624Polestar 4248+ 25.3%192,658+ 109.6%162625BMW iX3247n/a81306new886926BMW X6241+ 12.1%341,845– 14.8%241927Toyota Camry237+ 45.4%351,464+ 8.2%293128Mercedes CLE235– 7.5%331,833– 10.9%252029Porsche Cayenne227– 11.7%431,293– 48.8%341730Mercedes C Class167– 19.7%36765– 60.0%512731Audi Q4 e-Tron164– 61.9%181,949+ 0.4%212332Toyota Alphard160– 2.4%401,071+ 27.3%384233VW Golf160+ 0.0%38986+ 107.1%445434Mercedes GLS159+ 69.1%46682– 20.8%583735Audi Q5156+ 52.9%201,947n/a227036BMW 4 Series153– 26.4%451,031– 20.0%413237VW ID.4146– 51.7%321,397– 3.2%314338Volvo S90144+ 58.2%531,029+ 43.5%423939Volvo XC90143– 45.8%571,161+ 31.9%363840Mercedes S Class142– 73.1%301,981– 25.8%201241BMW iX141+ 6950.0%56793+ 310.9%489442BMW X1141– 32.9%411,220– 17.8%352843Lexus UX141+ 53.3%42657+ 102.8%606044BMW iX1140+ 185.7%68619+ 119.5%628645Porsche Taycan134– 45.3%391,329+ 16.4%333546BYD Seal132+ 247.4%371,038+ 2259.1%4010847Porsche Panamera124– 46.1%48893– 39.5%453448Range Rover Sport124– 5.3%47815+ 2.6%464549Toyota Crown120+ 36.4%64778+ 108.6%496550VW ID.5118+ 49.4%95154– 75.5%11268

Source: KAMA, KAIDA