Hyundai Grandeur sales are up 118.6% thanks to a new generation.
New vehicle sales in South Korea increase by a robust 19.7% year-on-year in February to 146,877 units, including 125,240 local models (+21.3%) and 21,637 foreigners (+11.2%). Year-to-date, the market is now up 12.9% to 264,267 sales, that includes 226,408 locals (+14.8%) and 37,859 foreigners (+2.8%). Hyundai (+31.7%) largely outraces its home market to hold onto the brands top spot for the third consecutive month and the 5th time in the past 6 months with a splendid 37.7% share. Sister brand Kia (+26.7%) also over-performs at #2 and 34.1% share. Genesis (-12%) remains below the 10,000 monthly unit mark at #3 while Ssangyong (+49.4%) lodges another stellar gain thanks to the new Torres. For the 2nd time in a row, BMW (+12.8%) is the most popular foreign carmaker above Mercedes (-7.6%), Audi (+79.3%), Lexus (+183.5%) and Porsche (+44.5%) all in outstanding shape. Toyota (+149.1%), Land Rover (+165.3%), Ford (+143.9%) and Cadillac (+225%) make waves below while GMC appears at #24.
The Hyundai Porter (+38.8%) reclaims the top spot it held over the Full Year 2022 off the Hyundai Grandeur (+118.6%) despite the latter being helped by an all-new generation. Thanks to a strong January result the Grandeur however retains the YTD top spot. Note the Porter lodges its highest monthly volume in two years (since March 2021) and 44% of its February volume or 4,872 units go to the EV variant. In third place we have the Kia Bongo (+44.1%) back up 9 spots on January and also boosted by very strong EV sales at 56% of its total or 5,025 units making it the best-selling EV in the country. EV sales are helped by the return of government subsidies in February. The next four models all post fantastic gains: the Hyundai Avante (+71.4%), Kia Carnival (+93.1%), Sportage (+50.5%) and Seltos (+56.9%) are all euphoric, the Seltos hitting its highest ranking in three years (since March 2020) at #7. Notice also the Hyundai Kona (+249.4%) propelled to #16 thanks to the new model.
Over in the foreign models charts. the BMW 5 Series (+27.9%) continues to dominate with very solid scores and a safe margin over is nemesis the Mercedes E-Class (-39.2%) still in deep trouble. The Mercedes S-Class (-25.7%) also struggles year-on-year but is up one spot on January to #3. The Audi A6 (+169.9%) is down two to #4 ahead of the Lexus ES (+159.2%) up four and the BMW X4 (+173.6%) stable at #6. In fact the rest of the Top 10 entirely beats the market by far: the Mercedes C Class is up 32700% (!), the BMW 6 Series up 100.3%, the Porsche Cayenne up 39.3% and the Jeep Cherokee up 1230.3%.
Previous month: South Korea January 2023: New Hyundai Grandeur tops the charts
One year ago: South Korea February 2022: Hyundai Porter and Kia Bongo on top, Hyundai Ioniq 5 up to #7
Full February 2023 Top 32 all brands, Top 52 all local models and Top 50 foreigners below.
South Korea February 2023 – brands:
Note: Tesla doesn’t report sales data to KAIDA and therefore doesn’t appear in this ranking.
| Pos | Brand | Feb-23 | % | /22 | Jan | 2023 | % | /21 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Hyundai | 55,319 | 37.7% | 31.7% | 1 | 99,187 | 37.5% | 27.8% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Kia | 50,105 | 34.1% | 26.7% | 2 | 88,783 | 33.6% | 15.9% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Genesis | 9,696 | 6.6% | -12.0% | 3 | 18,051 | 6.8% | -16.4% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Ssangyong | 6,785 | 4.6% | 49.4% | 4 | 13,915 | 5.3% | 48.4% | 4 | 6 |
| 5 | BMW | 6,381 | 4.3% | 12.8% | 5 | 12,470 | 4.7% | 11.3% | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Mercedes | 5,519 | 3.8% | -7.6% | 6 | 8,419 | 3.2% | -10.2% | 6 | 4 |
| 7 | Renault Korea | 2,218 | 1.5% | -40.3% | 8 | 4,334 | 1.6% | -47.1% | 8 | 7 |
| 8 | Audi | 2,200 | 1.5% | 79.3% | 7 | 4,654 | 1.8% | 86.5% | 7 | 9 |
| 9 | Lexus | 1,344 | 0.9% | 183.5% | 12 | 1,920 | 0.7% | 94.5% | 10 | 15 |
| 10 | Porsche | 1,123 | 0.8% | 44.5% | 11 | 1,849 | 0.7% | 27.2% | 11 | 14 |
| 11 | GM Korea | 1,117 | 0.8% | -54.3% | 9 | 2,138 | 0.8% | -43.6% | 9 | 8 |
| 12 | Volvo | 827 | 0.6% | -21.0% | 10 | 1,834 | 0.7% | -10.6% | 12 | 11 |
| 13 | Toyota | 695 | 0.5% | 149.1% | 16 | 960 | 0.4% | 64.7% | 14 | 17 |
| 14 | Jeep | 599 | 0.4% | 35.8% | 18 | 843 | 0.3% | -10.2% | 16 | 16 |
| 15 | Mini | 587 | 0.4% | -19.8% | 15 | 866 | 0.3% | -44.2% | 15 | 12 |
| 16 | Volkswagen | 517 | 0.4% | -53.3% | 19 | 713 | 0.3% | -69.3% | 17 | 10 |
| 17 | Land Rover | 504 | 0.3% | 165.3% | 13 | 979 | 0.4% | 110.1% | 13 | 20 |
| 18 | Ford | 439 | 0.3% | 143.9% | 17 | 685 | 0.3% | -12.7% | 18 | 18 |
| 19 | Chevrolet | 254 | 0.2% | -52.5% | 14 | 614 | 0.2% | -38.0% | 19 | 13 |
| 20 | Honda | 161 | 0.1% | -37.1% | 22 | 230 | 0.1% | -58.3% | 20 | 19 |
| 21 | Lincoln | 127 | 0.1% | -42.3% | 24 | 186 | 0.1% | -50.5% | 21 | 22 |
| 22 | Peugeot | 74 | 0.1% | -59.6% | 23 | 140 | 0.1% | -52.2% | 23 | 23 |
| 23 | Cadillac | 65 | 0.0% | 225.0% | 20 | 140 | 0.1% | 145.6% | 22 | 24 |
| 24 | GMC | 63 | 0.0% | new | – | 63 | 0.0% | new | 25 | – |
| 25 | Bentley | 61 | 0.0% | 74.3% | 21 | 132 | 0.0% | 88.6% | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | Polestar | 44 | 0.0% | n/a | – | 44 | 0.0% | 120.0% | 27 | 21 |
| 27 | Maserati | 21 | 0.0% | -59.6% | 27 | 34 | 0.0% | -63.0% | 28 | 26 |
| 28 | Lamborghini | 18 | 0.0% | 5.9% | 25 | 46 | 0.0% | 39.4% | 26 | 27 |
| 29 | Rolls-Royce | 12 | 0.0% | -47.8% | 26 | 31 | 0.0% | -32.6% | 29 | 28 |
| 30 | DS | 1 | 0.0% | -87.5% | 28 | 3 | 0.0% | -80.0% | 30 | 30 |
| 31 | Jaguar | 1 | 0.0% | -94.1% | 29 | 3 | 0.0% | -90.6% | 31 | 29 |
| 32 | Citroen | 0 | 0.0% | -100.0% | – | 0 | 0.0% | -100.0% | – | 31 |
| – | Total local manufacturers | 125,240 | 85.3% | 21.3% | – | 226,408 | 85.7% | 14.8% | – | – |
| – | Total foreign manufacturers | 21,637 | 14.7% | 11.2% | – | 37,859 | 14.3% | 2.8% | – | – |
| – | Total market | 146,877 | 100.0% | 19.7% | – | 264,267 | 100.0% | 12.9% | – | – |
South Korea February 2023 – local models:
| Pos | Model | Feb-23 | /22 | Jan | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | Hyundai Porter | 11,099 | 38.8% | 3 | 17,690 | 31.6% | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Hyundai Grandeur | 9,817 | 118.6% | 1 | 18,948 | 201.0% | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Kia Bongo | 8,977 | 44.1% | 12 | 12,557 | 16.8% | 4 | 4 |
| 4 | Hyundai Avante | 6,336 | 71.4% | 4 | 12,436 | 36.2% | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | Kia Carnival | 6,039 | 93.1% | 2 | 12,943 | 78.7% | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | Kia Sportage | 5,689 | 50.5% | 5 | 11,181 | 35.8% | 6 | 7 |
| 7 | Kia Seltos | 5,552 | 56.9% | 14 | 8,918 | 27.3% | 9 | 14 |
| 8 | Ssangyong Torres | 4,813 | new | 6 | 10,257 | new | 7 | 28 |
| 9 | Kia Sorento | 4,745 | -0.6% | 7 | 9,356 | -4.9% | 8 | 2 |
| 10 | Genesis G80 | 4,290 | -7.8% | 8 | 8,347 | -17.8% | 10 | 11 |
| 11 | Kia Ray | 4,268 | 32.6% | 11 | 7,853 | 15.2% | 11 | 13 |
| 12 | Kia K8 | 4,168 | 42.2% | 13 | 7,619 | 38.6% | 12 | 12 |
| 13 | Hyundai Tucson | 3,561 | 32.7% | 10 | 7,197 | 14.2% | 14 | 16 |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 3,539 | -9.3% | 9 | 7,461 | -9.0% | 13 | 8 |
| 15 | Hyundai Staria | 3,416 | 66.1% | 16 | 6,367 | 30.8% | 15 | 15 |
| 16 | Hyundai Kona | 3,225 | 249.4% | 28 | 4,079 | 190.9% | 20 | 38 |
| 17 | Hyundai Casper | 3,164 | -4.2% | 15 | 6,234 | -14.0% | 16 | 10 |
| 18 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 2,776 | 65.2% | 19 | 4,900 | 27.6% | 18 | 21 |
| 19 | Kia K5 | 2,653 | 3.6% | 17 | 5,213 | -11.7% | 17 | 17 |
| 20 | Genesis GV70 | 2,468 | -4.8% | 23 | 3,617 | -27.8% | 22 | 18 |
| 21 | Hyundai Sonata | 2,240 | -46.4% | 18 | 4,779 | -23.1% | 19 | 9 |
| 22 | Kia Morning | 2,049 | 20.5% | 21 | 3,862 | 19.4% | 21 | 20 |
| 23 | Kia EV6 | 1,951 | 14.4% | – | 1,951 | 7.1% | 29 | 25 |
| 24 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,911 | -52.2% | 44 | 1,987 | -54.5% | 27 | 23 |
| 25 | Kia Niro | 1,880 | -26.8% | 22 | 3,149 | -17.0% | 24 | 19 |
| 26 | Genesis GV80 | 1,673 | -6.1% | 20 | 3,554 | -2.8% | 23 | 26 |
| 27 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 1,632 | new | 46 | 1,655 | new | 32 | 33 |
| 28 | SsangYong Rexton Sports | 1,290 | -49.7% | 29 | 1,988 | -64.1% | 26 | 24 |
| 29 | Kia K3 | 1,024 | -34.9% | 25 | 1,974 | -41.3% | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | Samsung XM3 | 977 | -8.0% | 24 | 1,996 | -19.5% | 25 | 30 |
| 31 | Samsung QM6 | 938 | -56.2% | 27 | 1,815 | -63.8% | 30 | 22 |
| 32 | Hyundai Nexo | 884 | 36.0% | 37 | 1,191 | 22.9% | 33 | 36 |
| 33 | Genesis G90 | 835 | -22.2% | 26 | 1,779 | 54.6% | 31 | 27 |
| 34 | Kia Mohave | 504 | -46.9% | 32 | 986 | -27.3% | 35 | 32 |
| 35 | Hyundai Venue | 492 | -20.0% | 30 | 1,138 | -26.1% | 34 | 37 |
| 36 | Chevrolet Spark | 392 | -37.0% | 36 | 702 | 8.8% | 39 | 35 |
| 37 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | 380 | -63.5% | 34 | 810 | -53.7% | 37 | 31 |
| 38 | SsangYong Tivoli | 340 | -68.7% | 31 | 972 | -55.4% | 36 | 34 |
| 39 | Kia K9 | 301 | -43.9% | 33 | 732 | -28.5% | 38 | 39 |
| 40 | SsangYong Rexton | 263 | -7.1% | 40 | 402 | -21.2% | 42 | 44 |
| 41 | Samsung SM6 | 241 | -14.8% | 38 | 461 | 13.3% | 41 | 43 |
| 42 | Genesis G70 | 220 | -61.1% | 35 | 537 | -51.1% | 40 | 40 |
| 43 | Genesis GV60 | 210 | -39.8% | 49 | 217 | -58.7% | 45 | 41 |
| 44 | Kia Stinger | 120 | -26.8% | 41 | 233 | -29.4% | 44 | 46 |
| 45 | Chevrolet Colorado | 98 | -77.3% | 42 | 205 | -72.7% | 46 | 45 |
| 46 | Chevrolet Traverse | 85 | 39.3% | 43 | 165 | 91.9% | 47 | 47 |
| 47 | SsangYong Korando | 79 | -87.0% | 39 | 296 | -74.1% | 43 | 42 |
| 48 | GMC Sierra | 63 | new | – | 63 | new | 49 | – |
| 49 | Renault Samsung Master | 62 | -15.1% | – | 62 | -55.4% | 50 | 52 |
| 50 | Chevrolet Equinox | 55 | n/a | 45 | 116 | n/a | 48 | 51 |
| 51 | Chevrolet Malibu | 24 | -79.7% | 47 | 44 | -83.5% | 51 | 49 |
| 52 | Chevrolet Tahoe | 20 | new | 48 | 33 | new | 52 | 55 |
South Korea February 2023 – foreign models:
| Pos | Model | Feb-23 | /22 | Jan | 2023 | /22 | Pos | FY22 |
| 1 | BMW 5 Series | 2,432 | 27.9% | 1 | 4,556 | 16.9% | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Mercedes E Class | 1,624 | -39.2% | 3 | 2,569 | -43.6% | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Mercedes S Class | 1,219 | -25.7% | 4 | 2,009 | -26.2% | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Audi A6 | 996 | 169.9% | 2 | 2,492 | 215.0% | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Lexus ES | 967 | 159.2% | 9 | 1,443 | 85.0% | 6 | 15 |
| 6 | BMW X4 | 922 | 173.6% | 6 | 1,557 | 152.8% | 5 | 14 |
| 7 | Mercedes C Class | 656 | 32700.0% | 12 | 955 | 23775.0% | 10 | 21 |
| 8 | BMW 6 Series | 653 | 100.3% | 11 | 1,043 | 59.2% | 8 | 19 |
| 9 | Porsche Cayenne | 599 | 39.3% | 10 | 991 | 55.1% | 9 | 20 |
| 10 | Jeep Cherokee | 439 | 1230.3% | n/a | 475 | 327.9% | 16 | n/a |
| 11 | BMW X5 | 420 | -18.3% | 8 | 901 | -11.6% | 11 | 5 |
| 12 | BMW X3 | 404 | 23.5% | 5 | 1,135 | 66.9% | 7 | 10 |
| 13 | Toyota RAV4 | 387 | 19250.0% | n/a | 400 | 19900.0% | 23 | 31 |
| 14 | Volvo S90 | 338 | 144.9% | 15 | 609 | 59.4% | 13 | 12 |
| 15 | Lexus NX | 313 | n/a | 48 | 378 | n/a | 24 | n/a |
| 16 | Mercedes GLC | 310 | 101.3% | 25 | 454 | 142.8% | 19 | 13 |
| 17 | Ford Explorer | 305 | 276.5% | 21 | 463 | -20.7% | 18 | 25 |
| 18 | BMW 3 Series | 292 | -30.3% | 7 | 807 | -16.7% | 12 | 9 |
| 19 | Mini Cooper Hatch | 282 | -2.8% | 27 | 416 | -38.3% | 20 | 17 |
| 20 | VW Tiguan | 270 | 8.4% | 37 | 359 | -31.4% | 25 | 11 |
| 21 | BMW i4 | 258 | new | 24 | 409 | new | 22 | 35 |
| 22 | Range Rover | 247 | 1135.0% | 13 | 541 | 1362.2% | 14 | n/a |
| 23 | Mercedes CLA | 239 | -50.3% | 33 | 343 | -29.1% | 26 | 41 |
| 24 | Mercedes EQE | 234 | new | 47 | 299 | new | 31 | n/a |
| 25 | Audi Q3 | 228 | n/a | 19 | 413 | n/a | 21 | n/a |
| 26 | Toyota Sienna | 213 | 166.3% | 38 | 296 | 82.7% | 32 | n/a |
| 27 | BMW X6 | 208 | -50.5% | 16 | 465 | -6.3% | 17 | 16 |
| 28 | BMW X7 | 195 | -50.8% | 14 | 485 | -39.5% | 15 | 18 |
| 29 | Porsche Panamera | 195 | 195.5% | 28 | 320 | 59.2% | 30 | n/a |
| 30 | Mercedes EQB | 189 | new | n/a | 230 | new | 39 | n/a |
| 31 | Mercedes CLS | 185 | 1955.6% | 43 | 257 | 1876.9% | 35 | 22 |
| 32 | Audi A4 | 175 | 821.1% | 23 | 328 | 15.5% | 28 | n/a |
| 33 | Mercedes A Class | 171 | -58.5% | 45 | 239 | -42.7% | 36 | 23 |
| 34 | Mercedes GLB | 159 | 74.7% | n/a | 205 | 122.8% | 42 | 24 |
| 35 | Mercedes GLE | 155 | -48.7% | 30 | 264 | -39.2% | 34 | 8 |
| 36 | Audi Q5 | 150 | -9.6% | 26 | 291 | 24.9% | 33 | 40 |
| 37 | Mini Countryman | 146 | -36.8% | 35 | 237 | -51.1% | 37 | 27 |
| 38 | Volvo XC60 | 143 | -49.8% | 20 | 322 | -45.8% | 29 | 32 |
| 39 | Mercedes EQS | 141 | 227.9% | n/a | 169 | 293.0% | 47 | 47 |
| 40 | BMW 7 Series | 140 | -25.5% | 36 | 231 | -39.5% | 38 | 26 |
| 41 | Volvo XC90 | 132 | 0.8% | 17 | 340 | 29.3% | 27 | 36 |
| 42 | Honda CR-V | 121 | 0.0% | n/a | 142 | -23.7% | 51 | n/a |
| 43 | Land Rover Defender | 117 | 192.5% | 46 | 184 | 61.4% | 44 | n/a |
| 44 | Porsche Taycan | 117 | -25.5% | 49 | 182 | -38.3% | 45 | n/a |
| 45 | Audi Q7 | 116 | 17.2% | n/a | 173 | -11.3% | 46 | n/a |
| 46 | Mini Clubman | 115 | -21.8% | n/a | 157 | -45.7% | 49 | 34 |
| 47 | Audi A5 | 109 | 5350.0% | 31 | 218 | 990.0% | 40 | n/a |
| 48 | Porsche 911 | 101 | 57.8% | n/a | 163 | -10.4% | 48 | n/a |
| 49 | Chevrolet Colorado | 98 | -77.3% | 32 | 205 | -72.7% | 41 | 28 |
| 50 | VW Golf | 96 | -37.3% | n/a | 141 | -50.0% | 52 | n/a |
Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers
