Sales of imported light passenger vehicles in South Korea jumped by 37% to 38,059 units in June 2026, up from 29,860 units in the same month last year, according to registration data released by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA).
Sales of imported light passenger vehicles in the country have risen strongly this year, driven by strong local demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). In the first six months of 2026, import sales surged by 33% to 184,032 units, up from 138,120 units in the same period last year, strongly outperforming sales by the country’s five main automakers, which reported a 3% drop in combined domestic sales to 663,491 units year-to-date.
Tesla has been behind most of the import segment’s strong growth this year, with deliveries surging almost threefold to 56,139 units, to become the leading import brand with a 30% share of segment sales. The US automaker has come under fire locally this month for hiking its prices just after it qualified for new BEV incentives introduced at the beginning of July.
A new points-based BEV subsidy evaluation system has been introduced by the government, replacing the existing vehicle range- and efficiency-based system. The new system takes into account vehicle manufacturers’ overall technological capabilities, contributions to the country’s supply chain, compliance with domestic environmental regulations, safety management, and minimum standards for after-sales services.
BMW slipped into second place after its sales rose by just over 2% to 39,150 units in the six-month period, while its Mini subsidiary saw its sales rise by 20% to 4,091 units. Together, the two brands accounted for just over 23% of total import sales year-to-date. BMW recently introduced its new battery-powered iX3 SUV, based on the company’s new ‘Neue Klasse’ platform.
Mercedes-Benz’s sales fell by 9% to 29,776 units, despite the launch of a new product offensive earlier in the year. The company, which led the South Korean import segment just a few years ago, plans to bring in ten new and facelifted models in 2026 as it looks to strengthen its electrified vehicle line-up.
Volkswagen Group reported an 8% sales rise to 14,775 units year-to-date, led by strong demand for Audi and Porsche models. Porsche is currently expanding its sales network and plans to launch more than ten new models in the country this year. Toyota’s sales increased by 15% to 5,187 units, while its Lexus division reported a 3% increase to 7,819 units.
BYD has made strong inroads into the South Korean market in the last year, with sales jumping ninefold to 7,023 units in the first six months of 2026. The company failed to qualify for BEV incentives under the government’s new points-based system, and has indicated that it will focus more of its efforts on the plug-in hybrid segment in its pursuit of further growth, starting with the launch of the Sealion 6 Dual Mode intelligent (DM-i) plug-in hybrid model.
