The Kia Sorento is the best-selling vehicle in South Korea for the third month ever.
The South Korean new light vehicle market advances 3.4% year-on-year in November to 160,624 units, including 132,231 (+4.1%) for domestic carmakers and 28,303 (+0.3%) for foreigners. The year-to-date volume is up 5.7% to 1,596,840 including 1,337,560 locals (+6.4%) and 259,280 foreigners (+2.2%). Hyundai (+24%) single handedly pulls the entire market up and scores a 38.1% share vs. 36.6% year-to-date. It is the first time in 40 months (since July 2020) that Hyundai passes the 60,000 monthly units mark. Kia (-3.6%) and Genesis (-6.3%) complete the podium in weak fashion, with the next three carmakers also in negative: Mercedes is at -7.3%, BMW at -2.5% and KG Mobility at -21.2%. Tesla is now included in the brands ranking and points at #7. Peugeot (+100%), Toyota (+78.8%), GM Korea (+46.6%) and Lexus (+42.4%) post the best performances in the market.
In the domestic models ranking, the Kia Sorento (+40.7%) is the overall best-seller for the third consecutive month and the third time ever thanks to its recent facelift. The Hyundai Porter (+31.8%) is also in great shape and stays at #2 with the Hyundai Santa Fe (+206.6%) pushed up by the new generation. Note hybrid variants account for 79% of Santa Fe sales this month. The Hyundai Grandeur (+112.6%) is in the same position and holds onto the YTD pole position. The Hyundai Sonata (+30.9%) is the only remaining double-digit gainer in the Top 10 while the Kia Sportage (+3.8%) matches the market and the Kia Carnival (-22.6%), #1 a year ago, freefalls. The Hyundai Kona (+363.1%), Venue (+79.6%), Genesis GV80 (+75%), Hyundai Tucson (+38.6%) and Kia Seltos (+28.9%) also shine below. The new KG Mobility Torres EVX is up to #25.
Over in the foreign models charts, the Tesla Model Y (+250.7%) takes the lead, toppling the Mercedes E Class (+30.6%). The BMW 5 Series (-19%) returns to the podium despite a harsh year-on-year fall. The Mercedes S Class (-25.3%) also struggles but climbs back up three spots on October to #4. The next five models all deliver solid runs, with the BMW X7 posting an extravagant 29250% year-on-year gain at #7. The BMW 7 Series (+343.1%) and Volvo XC60 (+281.7%) also skyrocket while the Lexus ES (+28.6%) and Mercedes GLE (+20.7%) are more modest yet still very strong.
Previous month: South Korea October 2023: Hyundai defies negative market, Kia Sorento #1 again, Hyundai Santa Fe #3
One year ago: South Korea November 2022: Kia places 4 models in Top 5, Carnival scores 2nd ever top spot
Full November 2023 Top 32 All brands, Top 55 All local models and Top 50 foreigners below.
South Korea November 2023 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Nov-23 | % | /22 | Oct | 2023 | % | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Hyundai | 61,169 | 38.1% | + 24.0% | 1 | 584,751 | 36.6% | + 17.3% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Kia | 50,322 | 31.3% | – 3.6% | 2 | 520,103 | 32.6% | + 6.0% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Genesis | 10,889 | 6.8% | – 6.3% | 3 | 115,873 | 7.3% | – 3.3% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Mercedes | 7,168 | 4.5% | – 7.3% | 4 | 68,156 | 4.3% | – 4.7% | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | BMW | 7,032 | 4.4% | – 2.5% | 5 | 69,546 | 4.4% | – 3.0% | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | KG Mobility (ex Ssangyong) | 5,050 | 3.1% | – 21.2% | 7 | 59,838 | 3.7% | – 5.2% | 6 | 6 |
| 7 | Tesla | 3,563 | 2.2% | n/a | n/a | 15,439 | 1.0% | n/a | 10 | n/a |
| 8 | GM Korea | 3,016 | 1.9% | + 46.6% | 6 | 36,541 | 2.3% | + 3.2% | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | Renault Korea | 1,875 | 1.2% | – 66.2% | 8 | 20,454 | 1.3% | – 58.6% | 8 | 7 |
| 10 | Volvo | 1,640 | 1.0% | – 37.3% | 9 | 15,410 | 1.0% | + 22.1% | 11 | 11 |
| 11 | Audi | 1,392 | 0.9% | – 16.5% | 10 | 16,650 | 1.0% | – 11.3% | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | Lexus | 1,183 | 0.7% | + 42.4% | 11 | 12,191 | 0.8% | + 86.6% | 12 | 15 |
| 13 | Mini | 997 | 0.6% | – 18.7% | 13 | 8,731 | 0.5% | – 14.8% | 15 | 12 |
| 14 | Volkswagen | 966 | 0.6% | – 50.3% | 12 | 8,785 | 0.6% | – 33.0% | 14 | 10 |
| 15 | Toyota | 835 | 0.5% | + 78.8% | 14 | 7,602 | 0.5% | + 30.6% | 16 | 17 |
| 16 | Porsche | 752 | 0.5% | – 21.9% | 15 | 10,442 | 0.7% | + 30.9% | 13 | 14 |
| 17 | Chevrolet | 576 | 0.4% | – 45.5% | 16 | 5,472 | 0.3% | – 35.8% | 17 | 13 |
| 18 | Jeep | 420 | 0.3% | – 29.9% | 19 | 4,052 | 0.3% | – 38.5% | 19 | 16 |
| 19 | Ford | 379 | 0.2% | – 28.5% | 21 | 3,141 | 0.2% | – 33.7% | 20 | 18 |
| 20 | Land Rover | 300 | 0.2% | – 25.2% | 17 | 4,684 | 0.3% | + 68.0% | 18 | 20 |
| 21 | Peugeot | 276 | 0.2% | + 100.0% | 22 | 1,763 | 0.1% | – 5.3% | 21 | 23 |
| 22 | Honda | 187 | 0.1% | + 25.5% | 20 | 1,234 | 0.1% | – 58.3% | 23 | 19 |
| 23 | Lincoln | 176 | 0.1% | – 28.2% | 23 | 1,143 | 0.1% | – 52.9% | 24 | 22 |
| 24 | Polestar | 167 | 0.1% | – 6.7% | 18 | 1,556 | 0.1% | – 40.7% | 22 | 21 |
| 25 | Cadillac | 115 | 0.1% | + 15.0% | 25 | 859 | 0.1% | + 2.5% | 25 | 24 |
| 26 | Bentley | 65 | 0.0% | + 18.2% | 24 | 747 | 0.0% | + 0.1% | 26 | 25 |
| 27 | GMC | 36 | 0.0% | new | 30 | 446 | 0.0% | new | 27 | – |
| 28 | Lamborghini | 33 | 0.0% | – 26.7% | 26 | 384 | 0.0% | + 7.9% | 29 | 27 |
| 29 | Maserati | 23 | 0.0% | – 25.8% | 27 | 387 | 0.0% | – 25.9% | 28 | 26 |
| 30 | Rolls-Royce | 11 | 0.0% | – 50.0% | 29 | 255 | 0.0% | + 16.4% | 30 | 28 |
| 31 | DS | 10 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 28 | 151 | 0.0% | + 81.9% | 31 | 30 |
| 32 | Jaguar | 1 | 0.0% | – 83.3% | 31 | 54 | 0.0% | – 66.3% | 32 | 29 |
| – | Total local manufacturers | 132,321 | 82.4% | + 4.1% | – | 1,337,560 | 83.8% | + 6.4% | – | – |
| – | Total foreign manufacturers | 28,303 | 17.6% | + 0.3% | – | 259,280 | 16.2% | + 2.2% | – | – |
| – | Total market | 160,624 | 100.0% | + 3.4% | – | 1,596,840 | 100.0% | + 5.7% | – | – |
South Korea November 2023 – local models:
| Pos | Model | Nov-23 | /22 | Oct | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Kia Sorento | 9,364 | + 40.7% | 1 | 77,743 | + 26.4% | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | Hyundai Porter | 9,255 | + 31.8% | 2 | 91,622 | + 10.2% | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 8,780 | + 206.6% | 3 | 43,661 | + 75.4% | 10 | 21 |
| 4 | Hyundai Grandeur | 7,980 | + 112.6% | 4 | 104,652 | + 80.1% | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Kia Sportage | 5,982 | + 3.8% | 9 | 64,010 | + 30.1% | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | Kia Carnival | 5,857 | – 22.6% | 10 | 64,552 | + 24.8% | 4 | 5 |
| 7 | Kia Bongo | 5,855 | – 1.6% | 6 | 59,104 | – 2.7% | 7 | 4 |
| 8 | Hyundai Avante | 5,828 | + 2.2% | 5 | 60,222 | + 19.2% | 6 | 6 |
| 9 | Hyundai Casper | 5,701 | + 2.3% | 12 | 41,430 | – 6.9% | 11 | 10 |
| 10 | Hyundai Sonata | 4,895 | + 30.9% | 7 | 34,476 | – 21.3% | 17 | 9 |
| 11 | Kia Ray | 4,587 | + 11.9% | 8 | 46,676 | + 15.9% | 9 | 13 |
| 12 | Kia Seltos | 4,446 | + 28.9% | 16 | 47,079 | + 22.0% | 8 | 14 |
| 13 | Genesis GV80 | 3,874 | + 75.0% | 30 | 24,423 | + 23.0% | 22 | 26 |
| 14 | Kia K5 | 3,783 | + 17.9% | 19 | 31,016 | + 7.2% | 21 | 17 |
| 15 | Hyundai Staria | 3,342 | + 0.5% | 14 | 36,244 | + 19.7% | 16 | 15 |
| 16 | Hyundai Kona | 3,209 | + 363.1% | 17 | 32,595 | + 325.5% | 19 | 38 |
| 17 | Hyundai Tucson | 3,205 | + 38.6% | 13 | 40,156 | + 34.7% | 13 | 16 |
| 18 | Hyundai Palisade | 3,157 | – 27.7% | 18 | 39,027 | – 14.0% | 14 | 8 |
| 19 | Genesis G80 | 3,023 | – 28.4% | 22 | 41,107 | – 2.9% | 12 | 11 |
| 20 | Genesis GV70 | 2,910 | + 2.8% | 11 | 31,826 | + 22.8% | 20 | 18 |
| 21 | Kia K8 | 2,799 | – 27.6% | 20 | 38,578 | – 4.9% | 15 | 12 |
| 22 | Chevrolet Trax Crossover | 2,306 | new | 15 | 22,019 | new | 25 | – |
| 23 | Kia Morning | 2,111 | – 37.1% | 21 | 24,071 | – 11.6% | 23 | 20 |
| 24 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,723 | – 10.3% | 26 | 15,814 | – 40.7% | 27 | 23 |
| 25 | KG Mobility Torres EVX | 1,667 | new | 51 | 1,715 | new | 45 | – |
| 26 | Kia Niro | 1,661 | – 16.9% | 23 | 22,149 | – 20.1% | 24 | 19 |
| 27 | KG Mobility Torres | 1,546 | – 58.0% | 24 | 33,568 | + 72.1% | 18 | 28 |
| 28 | Kia K3 | 1,428 | – 32.5% | 29 | 11,858 | – 36.9% | 29 | 29 |
| 29 | Kia EV6 | 1,096 | – 51.9% | 25 | 16,534 | – 30.0% | 26 | 25 |
| 30 | Renault Korea QM6 | 1,034 | – 61.2% | 32 | 10,110 | – 61.4% | 31 | 22 |
| 31 | KG Mobility Rexton Sports | 994 | – 34.9% | 27 | 14,341 | – 41.4% | 28 | 24 |
| 32 | Hyundai Venue | 776 | + 79.6% | 28 | 7,755 | + 4.7% | 34 | 37 |
| 33 | Genesis G90 | 719 | – 47.3% | 33 | 11,325 | – 46.2% | 30 | 27 |
| 34 | Renault Korea XM3 | 694 | – 70.9% | 35 | 8,209 | – 53.9% | 33 | 30 |
| 35 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 618 | – 84.2% | 37 | 9,101 | – 11.1% | 32 | 33 |
| 36 | KG Mobility Tivoli | 575 | + 8.5% | 34 | 6,217 | – 41.1% | 36 | 34 |
| 37 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | 425 | – 43.9% | 36 | 7,114 | – 48.4% | 35 | 31 |
| 38 | Kia EV9 | 375 | new | 31 | 5,364 | new | 37 | – |
| 39 | Kia Mohave | 313 | – 55.2% | 39 | 4,768 | – 57.0% | 38 | 32 |
| 40 | Genesis G70 | 267 | – 53.6% | 40 | 4,044 | – 23.0% | 40 | 40 |
| 41 | Kia K9 | 236 | – 61.9% | 41 | 3,675 | – 38.6% | 41 | 39 |
| 42 | Hyundai Nexo | 232 | – 78.8% | 43 | 4,249 | – 56.3% | 39 | 36 |
| 43 | KG Mobility Rexton | 170 | – 52.8% | 46 | 2,645 | – 26.0% | 43 | 44 |
| 44 | Renault Korea SM6 | 147 | – 63.7% | 45 | 2,067 | – 46.5% | 44 | 43 |
| 45 | Chevrolet Colorado | 98 | – 49.2% | 38 | 1,626 | – 37.7% | 46 | 45 |
| 46 | KG Mobility Korando | 98 | – 69.9% | 49 | 1,352 | – 72.5% | 49 | 42 |
| 47 | Genesis GV60 | 96 | – 76.3% | 48 | 3,148 | – 42.0% | 42 | 41 |
| 48 | Chevrolet Traverse | 81 | – 61.1% | 42 | 1,115 | – 37.3% | 50 | 47 |
| 49 | Chevrolet Bolt EUV | 32 | – 31.9% | 47 | 1,616 | – 15.2% | 47 | 48 |
| 50 | GMC Sierra | 22 | new | 52 | 423 | new | 53 | – |
| 51 | Chevrolet Bolt | 19 | – 51.3% | 53 | 248 | – 63.3% | 54 | 53 |
| 52 | Chevrolet Equinox | 18 | – 83.0% | 44 | 630 | – 38.1% | 51 | 51 |
| 53 | Chevrolet Tahoe | 14 | – 22.2% | 50 | 236 | – 35.3% | 55 | 55 |
| 54 | Chevrolet Spark | 0 | – 100.0% | – | 1,419 | – 86.5% | 48 | 35 |
| 55 | Kia Stinger | 0 | – 100.0% | – | 483 | – 74.3% | 52 | 46 |
South Korea November 2023 – foreign models:
| Pos | Model | Nov-23 | /22 | Oct | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 3,542 | + 250.7% | 2 | 13,086 | + 84.8% | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | Mercedes E Class | 3,092 | + 30.6% | 1 | 22,209 | – 12.9% | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | BMW 5 Series | 1,807 | – 19.0% | 4 | 18,509 | – 4.1% | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Mercedes S Class | 799 | – 25.3% | 7 | 9,748 | – 19.9% | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Mercedes GLE | 775 | + 20.7% | 12 | 6,109 | – 8.0% | 7 | 8 |
| 6 | Volvo XC60 | 710 | + 281.7% | 10 | 5,229 | + 127.2% | 11 | 32 |
| 7 | BMW X7 | 587 | + 29250.0% | 6 | 3,775 | – 3.9% | 18 | 18 |
| 8 | Lexus ES | 562 | + 28.6% | 5 | 7,178 | + 80.0% | 6 | 15 |
| 9 | BMW 7 Series | 545 | + 343.1% | 29 | 3,110 | + 13.0% | 21 | 26 |
| 10 | Audi A6 | 543 | – 23.6% | 9 | 7,348 | + 12.7% | 5 | 4 |
| 11 | Mercedes GLC | 497 | + 23.0% | 11 | 5,962 | + 32.1% | 8 | 13 |
| 12 | BMW X5 | 464 | – 32.6% | 13 | 4,642 | – 32.3% | 13 | 5 |
| 13 | BMW 6 Series | 434 | + 40.5% | 8 | 5,458 | + 39.9% | 10 | 19 |
| 14 | BMW X1 | 395 | n/a | 33 | 1,400 | – 38.4% | 49 | 37 |
| 15 | VW Tiguan | 379 | – 65.9% | 17 | 4,036 | – 12.1% | 17 | 11 |
| 16 | Lexus NX | 358 | + 5.0% | 25 | 2,932 | + 99.7% | 22 | n/a |
| 17 | Porsche Cayenne | 354 | – 45.1% | 18 | 4,447 | + 26.8% | 15 | 20 |
| 18 | Mini Cooper Hatch | 353 | – 25.4% | 16 | 3,283 | – 19.6% | 19 | 17 |
| 19 | Mercedes CLS | 349 | – 16.9% | 15 | 2,672 | – 16.0% | 25 | 22 |
| 20 | Mini Countryman | 336 | – 31.1% | 36 | 2,479 | – 0.8% | 28 | 27 |
| 21 | BMW X3 | 335 | – 55.7% | 27 | 4,457 | – 26.5% | 14 | 10 |
| 22 | Mercedes EQS | 322 | + 59.4% | n/a | 1,852 | + 17.1% | 34 | 47 |
| 23 | BMW 1 Series | 318 | + 265.5% | 20 | 1,586 | – 9.7% | 39 | 48 |
| 24 | BMW X6 | 284 | – 23.7% | 22 | 3,251 | – 26.3% | 20 | 16 |
| 25 | Toyota RAV4 | 276 | – 21.8% | 23 | 2,687 | + 14.0% | 24 | 31 |
| 26 | Mini Clubman | 259 | + 32.8% | 35 | 1,864 | – 16.4% | 33 | 34 |
| 27 | Mercedes EQE | 255 | – 38.0% | n/a | 2,655 | + 227.8% | 26 | n/a |
| 28 | BMW iX3 | 249 | + 29.0% | 24 | 2,534 | + 50.8% | 27 | 39 |
| 29 | Volvo XC40 | 235 | + 44.2% | n/a | 1,741 | – 16.3% | 36 | 38 |
| 30 | Volvo XC90 | 232 | – 56.9% | 46 | 2,295 | + 21.2% | 29 | 36 |
| 31 | BMW X4 | 231 | – 59.4% | 26 | 4,732 | + 3.3% | 12 | 14 |
| 32 | Ford Explorer | 219 | – 32.0% | n/a | 1,404 | – 52.0% | 48 | 25 |
| 33 | Mercedes GLS | 205 | + 138.4% | n/a | 1,514 | – 21.8% | 44 | 45 |
| 34 | BMW 3 Series | 197 | – 71.4% | 3 | 5,879 | – 6.8% | 9 | 9 |
| 35 | Mercedes EQB | 192 | + 19.3% | n/a | 1,682 | + 256.4% | 37 | n/a |
| 36 | Mercedes C Class | 178 | – 73.3% | 31 | 4,144 | + 40.9% | 16 | 21 |
| 37 | BMW i7 | 176 | + 2414.3% | 40 | 822 | n/a | 67 | n/a |
| 38 | Porsche Taycan | 175 | + 733.3% | 43 | 1,493 | + 53.6% | 46 | n/a |
| 39 | Polestar 2 | 167 | – 6.7% | 19 | 1,556 | – 40.7% | 41 | 29 |
| 40 | Volvo S90 | 165 | – 87.3% | 34 | 2,795 | – 46.1% | 23 | 12 |
| 41 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 164 | – 15.5% | n/a | 982 | – 22.2% | 59 | 49 |
| 42 | Lexus RX | 163 | + 715.0% | 49 | 1,203 | + 295.7% | 52 | n/a |
| 43 | Audi Q5 | 160 | + 92.8% | n/a | 1,494 | – 19.0% | 45 | 40 |
| 44 | Toyota Alphard | 155 | n/a | n/a | 460 | n/a | 78 | – |
| 45 | Volvo S60 | 152 | + 198.0% | 39 | 1,539 | + 160.8% | 42 | n/a |
| 46 | VW ID.4 | 146 | + 1023.1% | 42 | 910 | – 28.4% | 63 | n/a |
| 47 | VW Arteon | 135 | – 45.3% | n/a | 936 | – 58.8% | 61 | 33 |
| 48 | Toyota Crown | 133 | new | n/a | 749 | new | 70 | – |
| 49 | Lincoln Aviator | 131 | + 9.2% | n/a | 393 | – 68.6% | 79 | n/a |
| 50 | Mercedes GLB | 129 | – 59.0% | 21 | 2,079 | – 27.4% | 32 | 24 |
Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers
