South Korea January 2017: Hyundai Grandeur confirms top spot

The Hyundai Grandeur is the best-seller at home for the second straight month. 

* See the Top 5 All local brands and Top 60 local models by clicking on the title *

Sales of local models in South Korea are a model of stability at -0.1% to 106.209 registrations. As it has been the case for the most part of 2015 already, market leaders and sister brands Hyundai (-11%) and Kia (-9%) trail their home market and see their market share thaw slightly to 41.9% and 33% respectively. In contrast, smaller brands take off: Ssangyong (+7%), General Motors Korea (+25%) and most strikingly Renault Samsung, up a gargantuan 254% to 7.439 units in 4th place. Hyundai’s new premium brand, Genesis, seems to be already out of breath: down 71% year-on-year to just 626 sales.

The Chevrolet Malibu is up 581% to #13 overall. 

Model-wise, the newly facelifted Hyundai Grandeur remains in the top seat and posts a second consecutive five-digit sales month at 10.586, up 110% year-on-year. The Hyundai Porter, leader over the Full Year 2016, remains solid at #2 (-9%), distancing three Kias: the Morning (+6%), Sorento (-31%) and Carnival (-11%). The Ssangyong Tivoli continues to progress at +20% to #10, the Kia K7 is up 173% to #11, the Hyundai Genesis up 57% to #12, the Chevrolet Malibu up 7-fold to #13, the Samsung SM6 u celebrates one year in market by dropping out of the Top 10 at #14 and the Chevrolet Trax takes off at +162% to #23.

Previous post: South Korea Full Year 2016: Hyundai Porter first LCV to #1

One year ago: South Korea January-March 2016: Genesis EQ900 and Samsung SM6 hit bullseye

Full January 2017 Top 5 All local brands and Top 60 models below.