The Sorento is the first Kia to top the Korean charts in at least 35 years.
Discover 35 years of South Korea’s historical data here.
Sales of new passenger cars in South Korea fell 6.2% year-on-year in 2024 to 1,632,571 units. Including 1,364,908 domestic cars (-6%) and 263,288 foreign (-8.4%). Hyundai (-9.6%) remains in first place with almost 575,000 sales, ahead of Kia (-4.2%). Note that until May, Kia was number one year-to-date. Genesis (+8%) goes against the market and reaches a share of 8.4% versus 7.3% last year. BMW (-4.7%), Mercedes (-13.4%) and KG Mobility (-25.7%) occupy positions 4 to 6 in the 2023 ranking. Renault Korea (+80.6%) is growing rapidly thanks to the new Grand Koleos, and Tesla (+80.7%) also stands out in eighth place. GM Korea (-35.9%) fails in ninth place.
In the ranking of domestic models, the Kia Sorento (+10.2%) takes first victory with sales of just under 95,000 units. This is a huge deal as it is the first Kia model to ever top the annual charts (we have data back to 1990) and the first time since 1998 (Daewoo Matiz) that a non-Hyundai is at the top. Kia does even better at 1-2, with Carnival (+18.5%) up two spots in 2023 to second. Hyundai Santa Fe (+50.3%) is pulled up by the new generation to 3rd place versus 8th last year, and Sportage (+6.5%) makes it the third Kias in the top 4. The leader for 2023 is the Hyundai Grandeur. (-36.6%) falls to fifth place, but remains the favorite sedan on the market. The Hyundai Sonata (+44.7%), Tucson (+26.3%) and Kia Seltos (+21.8%) also impress the rest of the top 10. The most popular new product of 2024 is the Renault Grand Koleos, which took 21st place, reaching #5 November.
As for foreign models, the Mercedes E-Class (+9.8%) again became the best seller, ahead of the BMW 5 Series (+0.2%) and Tesla Model Y (+34.8%), which means that in The podium will remain unchanged in 2023. The Tesla Model 3 (+1802.5%!) jumps out of the 2023 top 50 straight into 4th place, with the Mercedes GLC (+25.3%) rounding out the top five. Mercedes CLE (No. 25) is the highest-rated new product for 2024.
Previous year: South Korea 2023: Hyundai Grandeur regains leadership
2 years ago: South Korea 2022: Kia threatens Hyundai to take top spot, Hyundai Porter and Kia Sorento lead
Full December and 2024: Top 30 All Brands, Top 62 Domestic Models, and Top 50 Foreign Models, compared to full year 2023 data below.
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