The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling vehicle in South Korea for the 2nd straight month.

New light vehicle sales in South Korea sink -20.8% year-on-year in August to 109,556 units. This despite foreign manufacturers up 9.2% to 29,817 whereas local carmakers drop -28.2% to 79,739. The year-to-date tally tilts into negative at -0.6% to 1,093,807 including 849,001 locals (-6.6%) and 244,806 foreigners (+27.3%). Kia (-7.6%) widens the gap with sister brand Hyundai (-39.2%) to a record 10,577 sales. Tesla (+30.4%) remains in third place with a record 9.5% share, eclipsing the previous best of 8.7% reached last April. BMW (-4.3%) follows ahead of Genesis (-51.2%) literally in hell. Below Mercedes (-6.8%), BYD surges 713.6% to threepeat at a record 7th place.

In the local cars ranking, the Kia Sorento (-2.1%) is up three spots on July to reclaim the pole position it holds year-to-date, toppling the Hyundai Grandeur (+15.4%). The Hyundai Porter (-23.9%) rallies back up five ranks to land on the third step of the podium for the first time since last March. The Kia Carnival (-30.6%) and Sportage (-32.7%) close out the Top 5 in paltry fashion. Meanwhile the Kia EV3 (+37%), Hyundai Santa Fe (+8.9%) and Kia Ray (+6.7%) defy the surrounding gloom with solid YoY gains. The new Kia EV5 breaks into its home Top 10 for the first time at #10.

The Tesla Model Y (+44.2%) goes from strength to strength, accounting for one in every three foreign cars sold in South Korea this month. Even better: it ranks #1 overall even including domestic models, as it has already done last month and last May. Its gap wit the #2, the Kia Sorento, is up to 3,241 sales or 51%… The BMW 5 Series (-4.6%) and Mercedes E Class (-16.2%) follow as usual, while the new BYD Dolphin and Sealion 7 (+27200%) both grain one spot on last month, overtaking the Tesla Model 3 (-46.3%). The BYD Sealion 6 posts its maiden Top 50 finish, landing directly at #9.

Previous month: South Korea July 2026: Tesla Model Y outsells Hyundai Grandeur to #1, Kia Seltos up to record #2

One year ago: South Korea August 2025: Hyundai Avante and Tesla Model Y on top, Kia PV5 lands

Full August 2026 Top 30 All brands, Top 55 All domestic models and Top 50 foreigners below.

South Korea August 2026 – brands:

PosBrandAug-26%/25Jul2026%/25PosFY251Kia40,36536.8%– 7.6%1391,57935.8%+ 7.0%122Hyundai29,78827.2%– 39.2%2342,16031.3%– 12.4%213Tesla10,4009.5%+ 30.4%376,7767.0%+ 122.3%364BMW6,1805.6%– 4.3%451,8634.7%+ 1.2%545Genesis4,5454.1%– 51.2%556,9995.2%– 27.5%436Mercedes4,0373.7%– 6.8%637,7723.5%– 8.7%657BYD3,0022.7%+ 713.6%717,5231.6%+ 800.0%9168KGM2,3002.1%– 43.3%826,7172.4%– 0.5%789Renault Korea2,0241.8%– 47.7%924,9152.3%– 30.7%8710Toyota1,0150.9%+ 14.9%117,5420.7%+ 22.4%131411Lexus8400.8%– 32.7%1010,1330.9%– 0.8%101012Audi8100.7%– 35.9%139,0820.8%+ 22.2%121213Volvo7700.7%– 41.4%129,1980.8%+ 1.1%11914Porsche7390.7%– 3.4%155,6960.5%– 24.5%151315Chevrolet7170.7%– 39.3%146,6310.6%– 36.3%141116Mini7020.6%+ 5.6%165,4250.5%+ 12.9%161517Volkswagen3150.3%– 23.2%173,5900.3%– 2.8%171818Polestar2900.3%+ 12.8%192,9500.3%+ 58.1%192019Land Rover2710.2%– 39.2%183,0390.3%– 9.1%181720Jeep1340.1%+ 10.7%207540.1%– 40.6%202121Lamborghini680.1%+ 183.3%213440.0%+ 19.9%272622GMC520.0%+ 116.7%235700.1%+ 241.3%213023Peugeot400.0%– 44.4%264030.0%– 32.7%232424Bentley340.0%+ 47.8%252970.0%+ 80.0%282725Honda330.0%– 70.3%304430.0%– 68.5%222226Cadillac250.0%– 56.1%223850.0%– 13.7%242527Ferrari250.0%– 13.8%281580.0%– 33.6%292828Ford170.0%– 95.2%273840.0%– 88.3%251929Rolls-Royce160.0%+ 0.0%291140.0%– 12.3%303130Lincoln20.0%– 96.6%243630.0%– 58.9%2623 –Total local manufacturers79,73972.8%– 28.2% –849,00177.6%– 6.6% – – –Total foreign manufacturers29,81727.2%+ 9.2% –244,80622.4%+ 27.3% – – –Total market109,556100.0%– 20.8% –1,093,807100.0%– 0.6% – –

South Korea August 2026 – local models:

PosModelAug-26/25Jul2026/25PosFY251Kia Sorento6,397– 2.1%467,976+ 5.0%112Hyundai Grandeur5,931+ 15.4%152,853+ 22.3%253Hyundai Porter4,224– 23.9%834,459– 10.3%684Kia Carnival4,186– 30.6%341,305– 25.9%335Kia Sportage3,874– 32.7%540,518– 17.8%446Kia Ray3,718+ 6.7%633,276+ 2.3%8127Hyundai Santa Fe3,596+ 8.9%927,929– 29.8%1078Kia Seltos3,307– 22.0%234,279– 10.0%799Kia EV33,174+ 37.0%1025,072+ 47.1%112210Kia EV53,146new1122,545new134911Hyundai Sonata3,105– 12.0%738,028+ 16.3%51112Kia Bongo2,385– 24.7%1421,646– 12.1%161713Hyundai Staria2,184– 32.7%1319,980– 25.7%191514Kia K81,938– 1.9%2814,162– 26.0%262115Kia K51,920– 40.7%1920,029– 14.9%181616Hyundai Palisade1,812– 65.4%1624,103– 43.0%12617Kia PV51,744+ 983.2%1819,216+ 11835.4%204518Hyundai Bus/Truck1,553– 29.5%2014,389+ 16.1%242319Hyundai Avante1,462– 80.9%1732,675– 38.8%9220Genesis G801,460– 48.3%2120,321– 26.9%171321Kia Morning1,410– 32.2%1216,813+ 76.9%222522Genesis GV701,406– 52.9%2317,173– 24.2%211823Hyundai Ioniq 51,372– 17.4%2215,099+ 50.4%232624Genesis GV801,240– 52.9%2514,250– 33.1%252025Kia Niro1,039– 2.2%2710,807+ 23.8%272726Hyundai Kona1,034– 65.7%1521,664+ 7.6%151927Hyundai Casper1,017– 18.4%2610,590+ 5.0%292428Renault Korea Grand Koleos929– 68.0%3410,176– 65.0%301429Hyundai Ioniq 9770– 16.8%299,224+ 62.7%323330Kia EV4743– 33.9%339,318+ 58.3%313431Chevrolet Trax Crossover629– 36.7%385,419– 35.2%372932KGM Tivoli579+ 23.5%403,753+ 14.2%414133Renault Korea Arkana575+ 27.5%433,700+ 13.8%424034KGM Musso566+ 27.2%369,153+ 265.8%334435Hyundai Tucson526– 86.4%2422,384– 35.2%141036Renault Korea Filante520new3910,681new28 –37KGM Torres460+ 20.4%443,234– 41.0%443138KGM Actyon444– 57.3%454,162+ 0.2%393539Hyundai Ioniq 6424+ 84.3%375,990+ 57.6%364240Kia EV6420– 61.1%306,787– 0.5%353041Hyundai Venue407– 49.9%326,938– 1.8%342842Kia Tasman378– 57.4%422,796– 54.6%453243Kia EV9312+ 178.6%412,306+ 119.0%475344Hyundai Nexo276– 77.1%314,051+ 38.3%403945Genesis G90270– 53.2%463,357– 34.0%433646Kia Bus/Special245– 14.9%472,528+ 106.5%464647KGM Musso EV130– 87.5%355,041– 5.8%383748Hyundai ST195– 52.7%51909– 4.4%505549Chevrolet Trailblazer88– 52.4%481,170– 36.6%484850KGM Torres EVX87– 65.6%50735– 52.0%535251Genesis G7083– 58.3%52939– 25.9%495052Genesis GV6073– 19.8%49764+ 43.1%525853KGM Rexton New Arena34– 79.8%54637– 30.2%545754Kia K929– 79.7%53820– 26.6%515455Genesis GV60 Magma13new5579new56 –

South Korea August 2026 – foreign models: