Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea fell by almost 15% to 17,222 units in September from 20,234 units a year earlier, according to data compiled by the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA).
The decline was in line with the broad-based fall in the South Korean domestic vehicle market and reflects a week-long shut-down of most industries and services across the country in the last week of the month due to the annual Chuseok holidays. Last year these holidays fell in October.
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In the first nine months of the year, sales of imported cars were still 13.5% higher at 197,055 units from 173,561 units a year earlier, driven mainly by a strong rebound in Audi and Volkswagen sales after the two brands were forced out of the market in the wake of the emissions cover-up scandal that blew up in 2016.
The two brands sold 2,376 and 2,277 vehicles respectively last month, compared with close to zero a year earlier, while Mercedes-Benz sold 1,943 units.
BMW's sales plunged by 61% to 2,052 units in September from 5,299 a year earlier following a major recall in response to dozens of its diesel-powered cars having caught fire since the beginning of the year. Its sales year-to-date are still 3.3% higher at 42,962 units, however.
