The Kia EV9 has landed in the South Korean charts.
New light vehicle sales in South Korea advance 11.7% year-on-year in June to 160,695, lifted by foreign manufacturers (+17.9%) as local carmakers are up 10.6%. This month’s result was boosted by consumers taking advantage of the last month of tax cuts. Year-to-date, the market is up 11.4% to 890,953 including 760,249 locals (+13.7%) and 130,704 foreigners (-0.2%). Hyundai (+13.4%) lodges a 7th consecutive monthly win at 35.1% share vs. 36.8% year-to-date, it is followed by sister brand Kia (+13.4%) also below its YTD level at 31.8% vs. 32.9%. Genesis (+23.5%) delivers its highest monthly volume of the year while BMW (+25.6%) overtakes Mercedes (+36.9%) to 4th place overall. Lexus (+125.5%), Porsche (+65.8%) and Land Rover (+178.6%) stand out below.
In the local models charts, the Hyundai Grandeur (+45.6%) scores a 4th consecutive monthly win, with the hybrid variants accounting for 65% of its sales for the month. The Hyundai Porter (+18.2%) ranks 2nd as it does year-to-date, with EV variants amounting to 30% of its volume, making it by far the most successful EV in Korea. The Kia Sorento (+24.8%), Sportage (+42.2%) and Carnival (+13.7%) round out the Top 5, all beating the market. It is also the case for the facelifted Hyundai Avante (+60.7%), the Kia Seltos (+60.2%) and Genesis G80 (+30%). The Hyundai Tucson (+55.1%) closes the Top 10 in spectacular fashion. The Chevrolet Trax Crossover (#16) is by far the most popular recent launch (<12 months) as we welcome the new Kia EV9 at #30, positioning itself just below the EV6 (#29).
Among foreign models, the BMW 5 Series (+204.2%) triples its sales year-on-year to cement its newfound pole position, leaving the Mercedes E Class (+26.2%) in the dust. The Mercedes S Class (+45.6%) stays at #3 above a reinvigorated Tesla Model X (not Model Y). The Lexus ES (+152.3%) rounds out the Top 5 ahead of the Mercedes GLE (-0.6%), BMW 6 Series (+258.5%) and 3 Series (-12.7%). The Tesla Model Y (-46%) is up 8 spots on May to #10 but tumbles down year-on-year. Notice also the new Mercedes EQE up 15 ranks on last month to #14 and the Toyota Crown making its first inroad into the Top 50 at #31.
Previous month: South Korea May 2023: Hyundai Grandeur, Kia Seltos impress
One year ago: South Korea June 2022: Samsung QM6 up to #10, Ssangyong Torres arrives, market off -10.6%
Full June 2023 Top 32 All brands, Top 55 All local models and Top 50 foreigners below.
South Korea June 2023 – brands:
Note: Tesla does not officially report monthly sales and doesn’t appear in this table.
| Pos | Brand | Jun-23 | % | /22 | May | 2023 | % | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Hyundai | 56,325 | 35.1% | 16.6% | 1 | 328,030 | 36.8% | 22.7% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Kia | 51,138 | 31.8% | 13.4% | 2 | 292,757 | 32.9% | 11.5% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Genesis | 13,838 | 8.6% | 23.5% | 3 | 69,239 | 7.8% | 3.1% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | BMW | 8,100 | 5.0% | 25.6% | 5 | 38,106 | 4.3% | 1.5% | 5 | 5 |
| 5 | Mercedes | 8,003 | 5.0% | 36.9% | 4 | 35,423 | 4.0% | -9.6% | 6 | 4 |
| 6 | KG Mobility (ex Ssangyong) | 5,758 | 3.6% | 25.6% | 6 | 38,969 | 4.4% | 38.3% | 4 | 6 |
| 7 | GM Korea | 5,159 | 3.2% | 16.4% | 7 | 18,984 | 2.1% | 8.2% | 7 | 8 |
| 8 | Renault Korea | 1,721 | 1.1% | -77.1% | 8 | 12,270 | 1.4% | -53.2% | 8 | 7 |
| 9 | Lexus | 1,655 | 1.0% | 125.5% | 11 | 6,950 | 0.8% | 121.1% | 11 | 15 |
| 10 | Volvo | 1,372 | 0.9% | 5.1% | 9 | 8,463 | 0.9% | 20.7% | 10 | 11 |
| 11 | Audi | 1,347 | 0.8% | -29.2% | 12 | 9,636 | 1.1% | 13.8% | 9 | 9 |
| 12 | Porsche | 1,109 | 0.7% | 65.8% | 10 | 6,226 | 0.7% | 32.6% | 12 | 14 |
| 13 | Mini | 970 | 0.6% | -10.7% | 13 | 4,430 | 0.5% | -23.3% | 13 | 12 |
| 14 | Toyota | 966 | 0.6% | 54.3% | 15 | 3,978 | 0.4% | 38.9% | 14 | 17 |
| 15 | Volkswagen | 538 | 0.3% | -51.0% | 14 | 3,240 | 0.4% | -50.2% | 15 | 10 |
| 16 | Land Rover | 507 | 0.3% | 178.6% | 16 | 2,988 | 0.3% | 137.5% | 16 | 20 |
| 17 | Jeep | 475 | 0.3% | -26.2% | 18 | 2,087 | 0.2% | -36.4% | 19 | 16 |
| 18 | Chevrolet | 444 | 0.3% | -29.0% | 17 | 2,725 | 0.3% | 2.7% | 17 | 13 |
| 19 | Ford | 267 | 0.2% | -29.4% | 19 | 2,111 | 0.2% | 6.5% | 18 | 18 |
| 20 | Peugeot | 223 | 0.1% | 79.8% | 20 | 811 | 0.1% | -16.4% | 20 | 23 |
| 21 | Polestar | 198 | 0.1% | 247.4% | 21 | 504 | 0.1% | -46.2% | 23 | 21 |
| 22 | Honda | 111 | 0.1% | -76.3% | 22 | 573 | 0.1% | -64.2% | 22 | 19 |
| 23 | Cadillac | 106 | 0.1% | 51.4% | 24 | 488 | 0.1% | 39.0% | 24 | 24 |
| 24 | Bentley | 94 | 0.1% | 17.5% | 25 | 385 | 0.0% | 12.2% | 25 | 25 |
| 25 | Lincoln | 63 | 0.0% | -70.4% | 23 | 681 | 0.1% | -57.6% | 21 | 22 |
| 26 | Maserati | 61 | 0.0% | 1.7% | 26 | 223 | 0.0% | -38.1% | 27 | 26 |
| 27 | Rolls-Royce | 43 | 0.0% | 138.9% | 29 | 154 | 0.0% | 29.4% | 29 | 28 |
| 28 | Lamborghini | 39 | 0.0% | 11.4% | 27 | 182 | 0.0% | 23.0% | 28 | 27 |
| 29 | GMC | 25 | 0.0% | new | 28 | 257 | 0.0% | new | 26 | – |
| 30 | DS | 25 | 0.0% | 733.3% | 30 | 52 | 0.0% | 18.2% | 30 | 30 |
| 31 | Jaguar | 15 | 0.0% | -25.0% | 31 | 30 | 0.0% | -72.0% | 31 | 29 |
| 32 | Citroen | 0 | 0.0% | #DIV/0! | – | 0 | 0.0% | -100.0% | 32 | 31 |
| – | Total local manufacturers | 133,939 | 83.3% | 10.6% | – | 760,249 | 85.3% | 13.7% | – | – |
| – | Total foreign manufacturers | 26,756 | 16.7% | 17.9% | – | 130,704 | 14.7% | -0.2% | – | – |
| – | Total market | 160,695 | 100.0% | 11.7% | – | 890,953 | 100.0% | 11.4% | – | – |
South Korea June 2023 – local models:
| Pos | Model | Jun-23 | /22 | May | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Hyundai Grandeur | 11,528 | 45.6% | 1 | 62,970 | 87.0% | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Hyundai Porter | 8,250 | 18.2% | 2 | 53,351 | 27.5% | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Kia Sorento | 6,978 | 24.8% | 5 | 36,558 | 15.0% | 4 | 2 |
| 4 | Kia Sportage | 6,418 | 42.2% | 6 | 36,084 | 34.8% | 6 | 7 |
| 5 | Kia Carnival | 6,358 | 13.7% | 3 | 39,350 | 43.1% | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | Hyundai Avante | 5,318 | 60.7% | 4 | 36,250 | 31.2% | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | Kia Seltos | 5,224 | 60.2% | 9 | 26,944 | 29.8% | 9 | 14 |
| 8 | Genesis G80 | 4,718 | 30.0% | 8 | 27,121 | 3.9% | 8 | 11 |
| 9 | Kia K8 | 4,469 | 11.4% | 11 | 25,155 | 25.5% | 11 | 12 |
| 10 | Hyundai Tucson | 4,441 | 55.1% | 12 | 24,227 | 22.3% | 13 | 16 |
| 11 | Kia Bongo | 4,435 | 1.1% | 7 | 34,325 | 7.9% | 7 | 4 |
| 12 | Kia Ray | 4,372 | 14.7% | 10 | 25,114 | 14.3% | 12 | 13 |
| 13 | Hyundai Sonata | 4,113 | -12.8% | 19 | 15,969 | -31.8% | 21 | 9 |
| 14 | Genesis GV70 | 4,028 | 81.5% | 20 | 16,003 | 13.6% | 20 | 18 |
| 15 | Hyundai Casper | 3,900 | -11.4% | 13 | 20,866 | -10.1% | 15 | 10 |
| 16 | Chevrolet Trax Crossover | 3,842 | new | 16 | 10,310 | new | 26 | – |
| 17 | Hyundai Staria | 3,501 | 42.8% | 14 | 20,822 | 41.5% | 16 | 15 |
| 18 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 3,353 | 15.1% | 21 | 16,561 | 26.6% | 19 | 21 |
| 19 | Hyundai Palisade | 3,164 | -45.1% | 15 | 23,094 | -14.6% | 14 | 8 |
| 20 | Hyundai Kona | 3,162 | 317.2% | 22 | 18,612 | 318.2% | 17 | 38 |
| 21 | Kia K5 | 2,963 | 26.0% | 17 | 17,502 | 8.4% | 18 | 17 |
| 22 | KG Mobility Torres | 2,907 | 8709.1% | 24 | 25,775 | 78006.1% | 10 | 28 |
| 23 | Genesis GV80 | 2,572 | 47.4% | 18 | 14,565 | 35.5% | 22 | 26 |
| 24 | Kia Niro | 2,290 | -40.1% | 25 | 13,165 | -20.4% | 23 | 19 |
| 25 | Kia Morning | 2,245 | -7.0% | 23 | 12,900 | -9.5% | 24 | 20 |
| 26 | Genesis G90 | 1,629 | -33.7% | 29 | 6,968 | -30.1% | 29 | 27 |
| 27 | Kia K3 | 1,540 | -4.3% | 31 | 6,356 | -42.6% | 31 | 29 |
| 28 | KG Mobility Rexton Sports | 1,535 | -28.1% | 28 | 7,800 | -46.8% | 28 | 24 |
| 29 | Kia EV6 | 1,379 | -23.7% | 27 | 10,927 | -10.1% | 25 | 25 |
| 30 | Kia EV9 | 1,334 | new | – | 1,334 | new | 44 | – |
| 31 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,297 | -13.9% | 26 | 9,504 | -37.1% | 27 | 23 |
| 32 | Hyundai Venue | 952 | 6.3% | 36 | 3,576 | -23.5% | 35 | 37 |
| 33 | Renault Korea QM6 | 928 | -78.8% | 33 | 5,973 | -57.0% | 32 | 22 |
| 34 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | 849 | -57.3% | 32 | 4,267 | -42.9% | 34 | 31 |
| 35 | KG Mobility Tivoli | 845 | -44.2% | 39 | 2,867 | -63.3% | 38 | 34 |
| 36 | Renault Korea XM3 | 640 | -75.3% | 34 | 4,989 | -48.1% | 33 | 30 |
| 37 | Kia Mohave | 510 | -53.4% | 40 | 3,007 | -50.0% | 36 | 32 |
| 38 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 491 | new | 30 | 6,779 | new | 30 | 33 |
| 39 | Genesis G70 | 469 | -3.9% | 42 | 2,099 | -26.3% | 41 | 40 |
| 40 | Genesis GV60 | 422 | -37.0% | 35 | 2,483 | -27.0% | 39 | 41 |
| 41 | Kia K9 | 366 | -19.2% | 41 | 2,262 | -36.5% | 40 | 39 |
| 42 | KG Mobility Rexton | 337 | 7.3% | 38 | 1,666 | -6.9% | 42 | 44 |
| 43 | Hyundai Nexo | 305 | -66.4% | 37 | 2,927 | -40.1% | 37 | 36 |
| 44 | Renault Korea SM6 | 153 | -60.7% | 43 | 1,246 | -29.8% | 45 | 43 |
| 45 | Chevrolet Colorado | 147 | -44.3% | 45 | 841 | -49.6% | 47 | 45 |
| 46 | KG Mobility Korando | 134 | -77.2% | 44 | 861 | -77.3% | 46 | 42 |
| 47 | Chevrolet Traverse | 117 | -48.9% | 46 | 608 | 60.8% | 49 | 47 |
| 48 | Chevrolet Bolt EUV | 78 | 7700.0% | 47 | 628 | 675.3% | 48 | 48 |
| 49 | Chevrolet Equinox | 46 | -84.6% | 51 | 327 | 6.2% | 51 | 51 |
| 50 | Chevrolet Bolt | 31 | n/a | 52 | 115 | 5650.0% | 54 | 53 |
| 51 | Chevrolet Tahoe | 21 | -66.7% | 50 | 136 | -38.5% | 53 | 55 |
| 52 | GMC Sierra | 18 | new | 48 | 244 | new | 52 | – |
| 53 | Kia Stinger | 1 | -99.5% | 49 | 483 | -58.8% | 50 | 46 |
| 54 | Chevrolet Spark | 0 | -100.0% | – | 1,419 | -75.3% | 43 | 35 |
| 55 | Chevrolet Malibu | 0 | -100.0% | – | 78 | -90.9% | 55 | 49 |
| 56 | Renault Korea Master | 0 | -100.0% | – | 62 | -85.5% | 56 | 52 |
South Korea June 2023 – foreign models:
| Pos | Model | Jun-23 | /22 | May | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | BMW 5 Series | 2,665 | 204.2% | 1 | 12,081 | 15.5% | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Mercedes E Class | 2,091 | 26.2% | 2 | 9,409 | -39.0% | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Mercedes S Class | 1,619 | 45.6% | 3 | 6,306 | -15.6% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Tesla Model X | 847 | n/a | n/a | 856 | n/a | 43 | n/a |
| 5 | Lexus ES | 825 | 152.3% | 7 | 4,465 | 100.3% | 5 | 15 |
| 6 | Mercedes GLE | 771 | -0.6% | 5 | 3,063 | -6.8% | 9 | 8 |
| 7 | BMW 6 Series | 699 | 258.5% | 8 | 3,128 | 63.3% | 7 | 19 |
| 8 | BMW 3 Series | 679 | -12.7% | 11 | 2,853 | -29.5% | 11 | 9 |
| 9 | Audi A6 | 669 | -15.3% | 31 | 4,554 | 43.5% | 4 | 4 |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 576 | -46.0% | 18 | 2,027 | -0.2% | 16 | 7 |
| 11 | BMW X4 | 545 | 56.6% | 22 | 3,231 | 66.1% | 6 | 14 |
| 12 | Porsche Cayenne | 518 | 475.6% | 9 | 3,118 | 101.4% | 8 | 20 |
| 13 | BMW X6 | 484 | -17.1% | 14 | 1,980 | -14.8% | 17 | 16 |
| 14 | Mercedes EQE | 394 | new | 29 | 1,325 | new | 25 | n/a |
| 15 | Mini Cooper Hatch | 389 | -26.7% | 19 | 1,836 | -18.6% | 19 | 17 |
| 16 | BMW 7 Series | 388 | 11.2% | 26 | 1,258 | -19.8% | 29 | 26 |
| 17 | Mercedes CLS | 375 | 8.7% | 25 | 1,287 | -27.6% | 28 | 22 |
| 18 | Mercedes C Class | 361 | 125.6% | 10 | 2,587 | 27.1% | 14 | 21 |
| 19 | Lexus RX | 359 | 1021.9% | n/a | 367 | n/a | 62 | n/a |
| 20 | Lexus NX | 358 | 14.4% | 16 | 1,636 | 408.1% | 21 | n/a |
| 21 | Volvo XC60 | 333 | -12.1% | 15 | 2,328 | 54.7% | 15 | 32 |
| 22 | BMW iX3 | 328 | 310.0% | 17 | 930 | 66.1% | 38 | 39 |
| 23 | BMW X5 | 318 | -53.6% | 13 | 2,668 | -21.9% | 13 | 5 |
| 24 | Mercedes G Class | 315 | 15650.0% | 23 | 1,073 | 151.3% | 34 | 50 |
| 25 | Tesla Model S | 307 | n/a | n/a | 315 | n/a | 65 | n/a |
| 26 | BMW X7 | 305 | -53.0% | 27 | 1,571 | -38.9% | 22 | 18 |
| 27 | Mercedes EQS | 303 | 188.6% | 41 | 888 | 220.6% | 42 | 47 |
| 28 | Mercedes EQB | 292 | 873.3% | n/a | 925 | n/a | 40 | n/a |
| 29 | VW Tiguan | 291 | 27.1% | 6 | 1,844 | 8.2% | 18 | 11 |
| 30 | Volvo S90 | 286 | 52.9% | 20 | 1,732 | -5.4% | 20 | 12 |
| 31 | Toyota Crown | 282 | new | n/a | 310 | new | 66 | – |
| 32 | Toyota RAV4 | 281 | 5.2% | 32 | 1,430 | 65.3% | 24 | 31 |
| 33 | BMW X3 | 275 | -62.8% | 12 | 2,946 | -4.4% | 10 | 10 |
| 34 | Mercedes GLB | 272 | -27.1% | 34 | 1,053 | -22.7% | 36 | 24 |
| 35 | Volvo XC90 | 266 | 6.8% | 28 | 1,316 | 27.9% | 26 | 36 |
| 36 | Mini Countryman | 264 | 29.4% | 30 | 1,202 | -13.6% | 30 | 27 |
| 37 | Jeep Wrangler | 235 | -13.6% | 46 | 593 | -44.9% | 50 | 46 |
| 38 | Toyota Camry | 226 | 83.7% | 39 | 1,065 | 4.4% | 35 | n/a |
| 39 | Mercedes GLS | 219 | -30.9% | 24 | 1,027 | -12.1% | 37 | 45 |
| 40 | Mercedes GLC | 218 | -45.2% | 4 | 2,789 | 57.7% | 12 | 13 |
| 41 | BMW i4 | 218 | 67.7% | 33 | 1,310 | 146.2% | 27 | 35 |
| 42 | Volvo XC40 | 217 | -22.8% | 21 | 1,150 | -10.9% | 31 | 38 |
| 43 | Range Rover | 207 | 885.7% | 36 | 1,531 | 1415.8% | 23 | n/a |
| 44 | Mercedes CLA | 203 | 1930.0% | 38 | 1,077 | 18.1% | 33 | 41 |
| 45 | Polestar 2 | 198 | 247.4% | 45 | 504 | -46.2% | 54 | 29 |
| 46 | BMW X1 | 176 | -58.1% | n/a | 406 | -74.6% | 60 | 37 |
| 47 | Mercedes EQA | 171 | -24.7% | 37 | 900 | 4.0% | 41 | n/a |
| 48 | BMW 4 Series | 165 | 139.1% | n/a | 562 | -3.9% | 52 | n/a |
| 49 | Porsche Taycan | 164 | 40.2% | 50 | 692 | -16.0% | 48 | n/a |
| 50 | Volvo S60 | 161 | 302.5% | n/a | 785 | 109.9% | 45 | n/a |
Source: KAIA, Manufacturers
