The value of built-up vehicles exported from South Korea rose by 8.6% year-on-year to US$ 5.5 billion in August 2025, according to data released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, despite the imposition of a 25% import tariff by the US. Overseas shipments last month were lifted by strong demand for electrified vehicles, with demand in key European markets particularly strong.

Exports to North America shrank by 8.3% to US$ 2.55 billion, driven lower by a 15% drop in shipments to the US to US$ 2.1 billion, reflecting also the ramp-up of production at Hyundai’s new assembly plant in Savannah, in the US state of Georgia, this year.

This decline was more than offset by a 54% surge in exports to the European Union to US$ 792 million, with shipments to Germany and the Netherlands more than doubling, while exports to the UK surged by 116% to US$ 250 million. Exports to Asia rose by over 9% to US$ 591 million; to the Middle East US$369 million (+10%), and to Oceania US$ 344 million (+20%).

By volume, total exports increased by 5.5% to 200,317 vehicles last month, with Hyundai Motor Group’s Hyundai, Genesis and Kia brands, and General Motors Korea, accounting for most of the shipments. Shipments of electrified vehicles, comprising mainly battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids, surged by almost 27% to 69,000 units.

In the first eight months of 2025, the value of new vehicles exported from South Korea amounted to US$ 47.7 billion.