Imported Car Sales in South Korea Rise 9.2 Percent

The Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association reported that imported car sales in South Korea increased by 9.2 percent year-on-year in August, with 29,817 units sold. This growth contributed to a larger trend for 2026, as total imported vehicle sales for the first eight months of the year rose 27.2 percent to 244,825 units.

Tesla led the August market with 10,400 units sold, followed by BMW with 6,180 and Mercedes-Benz with 4,037. China's BYD ranked fourth with 3,002 units, indicating growing competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers. Battery-powered EVs dominated the market by fuel type, accounting for 50.9 percent of all sales.

European models maintained the largest overall market share at 47.9 percent. United States brands held 35.7 percent, while Chinese and Japanese brands accounted for 10.1 percent and 6.3 percent of the market, respectively.