Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea fell by 0.5% to 19,380 units in May, from 19,470 units a year earlier, according to data released by the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA).
Sales in the first five months of the year rose by 1.1% to94,397 units from 93,314 units in the same period of last year.
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The sector looks to be stabilising after last year's 7.6% volume decline to 225,279 units, which came about as the South Korean government banned the sale of around 80 Volkswagen and Audi models following a widely-reported emissions cover-up scandal.
Sales of diesel-powered vehicles fell by 19% to 9,952 units last monthfrom 12,238 units a year earlier, which is in line with government policy of downsizing the country's diesel fleet to help reduce fine dust air pollution.
BMW remained the leading import brand for the second consecutive month in May with 5,373 sales, while its main rival Mercedes-Benz trailed in second place with 5,063 sales.Honda came third with 1,169 sales.
Mercedes-Benz remained the leading import brand in the first five months of the year, however, with sales rising by over 50% to 29,940 units, while BMW's sales were more than 28% higher at 23,488 units.
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By GlobalDataSee also: South Korean domestic sales fall 7% in May
