Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Hyundai Accent

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The South Korean new car market is down 7% year-on-year in April to 119,692 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 446,169 units, down 12% on 2011. The Hyundai Avante keeps the pole position both this month with 9,797 sales and 8.3% share and year-to-date at 36,567 units and 8.2%. It is followed by the Hyundai Sonata at 9,124 units and 7.4%, also #2 year-to-date. The Kia Morning rounds up the podium with 8,598 sales and 7.3% while the Kia K5 is up 2 spots on March to #4 at 6.9% share.

Good month for the Hyundai Grand Starex up to #8, the ‘launch honey moon period’ with consumers is over for the Kia Ray down to #10: it will be interesting to see where it stabilises. It is #8 year-to-date for now with 4.5% share. The Hyundai Accent gains one spot to #12, the highest South Korean position for the nameplate’s current generation.

Previous month: South Korea March 2012: Hyundai Avante and Accent shine

One year ago: South Korea April 2011: Hyundai Grandeur #1, Veloster arrives

Full April 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Hyundai Accent

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

South Korean consumers bought 120,175 local cars this month, down 10% year-on-year. For the first time in 2012 but the 8th time in the last 12 months the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) is the best-selling model in the country with 10,210 sales and 8.5% share and is also #1 year-to-date at 26,770 units and 8.2%. #1 in January, the Hyundai Sonata takes the 2nd spot this month with 8,469 sales and 7%, followed by the Kia Morning at 8,174 units and 6.8%.

After leading the way last month, the Hyundai Grandeur is down to #5 in March with 8,019 sales, while the Kia Ray drops one spot to a still very robust 8th position and 4.7% share. Up two ranks to #13, the Hyundai Accent reaches its highest South Korean position since the launch of the new generation last year. Other good performers this month include the SsangYong Korando Sports up to #16, the Chevrolet Orlando up to #21 and the Hyundai i30 up to #23.

Previous month: South Korea February 2012: SsangYong Korando Sports in Top 20

One year ago: South Korea March 2011: Avante #1, Orlando and Korando arrive

Full March 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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SsangYong Korando Sports

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

The South Korean market (excluding imports) is up 5% year-on-year in February at 111,805 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 208,253 units, down 8%. Surprise in pole position: one full year after its relaunch and 9 months since it last held the top spot, the Hyundai Grandeur is back in the lead with 9,337 sales and 8.4%. It is followed by the Hyundai Avante at 9,305 units and 8.3% and last month’s leader, the Hyundai Sonata, with 7,640 sales and 6.8%. The Avante is rewarded for its consistency by the #1 spot in the 2012 year-to-date ranking.

Kia Ray

The Kia Morning misses the podium for less than a hundred units at 7,549, ahead of the Hyundai Porter and Kia K5. The all-new Kia Ray confirms its awesome career start at #7 with 5,639 units and 5% market share while the SsangYong Korando Sports is up to #17 with 1,901 sales and 1.7% for only its second month in market.

Hyundai i40

The Hyundai i40 takes advantage of the arrival of the sedan version to climb an amazing 15 spots on January to a best-ever #18 at 1,641 units and 1.5% including 1,028 sedans.

Previous month: South Korea January 2012: Hyundai Sonata and Kia Ray shine

One year ago: South Korea February 2011: New Kia Morning off to flying start

Full February 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Kia Ray

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

South Korean consumers bought 96,448 new local vehicles in January. After 7 consecutive months in pole position, the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) drops down to #2 this month with 7,255 sales and 7.5%, passed by the Hyundai Sonata at 7,619 units and 7.9%. It is the first time in nearly 2 years that the Sonata tops the South Korean models ranking. In fact the entire Top 4 is 100% Hyundai with the Grandeur ranking #3 with 6,984 sales and 7.2% and the Porter at #4 and 6.2%.

Hyundai Sonata

After 4 Hyundais we find 4 Kias: the Morning (aka Picanto) is 5th at 6%, followed by the K5 (aka Optima) at 5.8%. The 7th place is a little event: launched last month, the Kia Ray manages to break into the Top 10 for its first full month of sales in the country with 4,496 units sold for a 4.7% market share. An excellent start for the all-new model that could become a staple in the Kia range. A good month for the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, respectively #8 and #10.

Further down the ranking, notice the new generation Hyundai i30 up 6 spots on December to #19, the new SsangYong Korando Sports landing directly #23 and best-selling SsangYong with 1,478 sales and 1.5% and the Hyundai i40 up 11 ranks to a best-ever 33rd position.

Previous month: South Korea December 2011: Kia Ray directly #12, Hyundai i30 up

One year ago: South Korea January 2011: New Hyundai Grandeur up to #6

Full January 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Kia Ray

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 10 Imports: click on title to see! *

A record 105,037 import models were sold in South Korea, up 16% on 2010 on the back of a new free trade pact with the European Union and increased demand for luxury brands. Imports are classified by version, not model, which artificially brings them down the rankings. The Mercedes E300 CDi comes at #1 with over 7,000 sales, followed by the BMW 520d and 528i. This means the BMW 5 Series would rank at least #27 in the overall model ranking with over 12,000 units.

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

129,497 local cars were registered in South Korea in December, bringing the full year 2011 total to 1,484,082. The big event in December is the arrival directly in 12th position of the all-new Kia Ray with 4,107 sales and 3.2% share. Koreans have a taste for that type of car, having ‘invented’ the similarly sized Daewoo Matiz and Hyundai Atos to tremendous success locally at the end of the nineties…

Hyundai i30

Another December highlight is the progression to #25 (+18 on November) of the 2nd generation Hyundai i30, much more modern in her new robe. Hyundai monopolises the podium again with the Avante, Sonata and Porter in the lead while the Chevrolet Malibu is down to #26 with 1,333 sales.

Hyundai Avante

Over the Full Year 2011, the Hyundai Avante is the best-selling model in South Korea with 131,016 sales and 8.8%, it was #1 9 times out of 12 this year. Boosted by the arrival of the new generation pushing it to #1 in February, the Kia Morning finishes the year in 2nd place at 117,029 units and 7.9%.

Kia Morning

Four Hyundais follow: the Grandeur probably has the nameplate’s best year in South Korea at #3 and 107,652 sales, ranking #1 in April and May and ahead of its little sister the Sonata, #4 at 102,947 units, and the Porter at 99,466 sales.Another Kia, the K5 ranks 6th.

Hyundai Grandeur

2011 also makes the morphing of all Daewoos into Chevrolets, with the Chevrolet Spark #7, the Chevrolet Cruze #17 and the Chevrolet Orlando landing at #22.

Previous month: South Korea November 2011: Chevrolet Malibu almost in Top 20

Previous year: South Korea December 2010: Hyundai Avante #1 again, Daewoo Matiz Creative #5

December 2011 Top 40 and Full Year 2011 Top 35 Ranking Tables below.

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Chevrolet Malibu

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

For once a bit of shake up in the South Korea Top 10 this month: if the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) is in pole position for the 6th month running with 10,354 sales and 9% share, the Hyundai Sonata lands in 2nd place for the first time since December 2010 at 8,597 units and 7.5%. It is #4 year-to-date with 93,787 sales and 6.9%. Hyundai monopolises the podium in November as it places the Porter at #3, its highest position since February. It is #5 in 2011 at 6.7% and 91,095 units.

As a result the Kia Morning (aka Picanto) drops to 4th but stays 2nd year-to-date with 108,887 sales and 8% share and the Hyundai Grandeur stabilises around 7% share at #5 while the Kia K5 is down to #6 after a one month-stay on the podium. The Kia Bongo is also strong this month at #7 with 4,809 sales and 4.2%.

For its first ‘true’ month of sales in South Korea the Chevrolet Malibu is up to #21 at 1,554 units and 1.3%. Other good performers this month include the new gen Kia Pride (aka Rio) up to #19 with 2,109 sales and 1.8%, the Hyundai Veracruz at #31 and the Chevrolet Aveo at #33.

Previous month: South Korea October 2011 Kia K5 back on podium

Full November 2011 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Kia K5

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

The Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) leads the South Korean models ranking for the fifth consecutive month in October and delivers its highest share since January at 10.4% and 12,625 sales. The Kia Morning is #2 for the fourth month in a row at 9,677 units and 8%.

For the first time since September 2010, the Kia K5 (aka Optima) is on the podium with 9,138 sales and 7.6%, ahead of the Hyundai Sonata (7.3%), Porter (7.2%), Grandeur (7.1%) and Grand Starex (4.3%).

Kia Pride

Other good performers this month include the Hyundai Accent up to #14 at 1.9%, the new generation Kia Pride knocking at the Top 20′s door at #21 with 1.3% and the Daewoo Alpheon at #28. Notice the Hyundai i40 at #33 for its first full month of sales at 542 units.

Previous month: South Korea September 2011 Kia K5 back in shape

Full October 2011 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Kia K5/Optima

* See the Top 50 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

The South Korean models ranking’s podium is unchanged this month vs. August with the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) in the lead with a robust 9.2% share and 11,408 sales, followed by the Kia Morning (aka Picanto) at 10,330 units and 8.6% and the Hyundai Sonata with 9,986 sales and 8%.

The Kia K5 (aka Optima) is up one spot to #4 and sells 9,475 units for a 7.6% market share this month, its best score in 14 months… The Hyundai Grandeur rebounds from a poor month of August to 7,048 sales and 5.7% in 6th place, while the Samsung SM5 is up 2 spots to #8 at 4,537 units and 3.7%. Notice the new Samsung SM7 already down 5 spots to #13.

Previous month: see the South Korean August 2011 Top 40 best-selling models here.

Full September 2011 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Samsung SM7

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post! *

No surprise in pole position: the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) is ahead again and even improves its market share on July at 9% thanks to 10,283 sales. The Kia Morning (aka Picanto) stays 2nd and is also up to reach an excellent 8.6% share at 9,834 units. The Hyundai Sonata is up one spot to #3 with 8,686 sales and 7.5% share, well ahead of its overall 2011 level (6.7%).

Kia Morning

The launch honeymoon is over for the Hyundai Grandeur, down 4 spots to #7 after 6 months spent on the podium. One culprit could be the relaunched Samsung SM7, up a massive 12 spots on July to land in 8th position this month with 3,755 sales and 3.3%.

Previous month: see the July 2011 South Korean Top 40 best-selling models here.

Full August 2011 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Kia Morning

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on ‘Read more’ at end of post *

In July the Hyundai Avante leads the South Korean models ranking for the 9th time in the last 12 months with 11,051 sales and 8.7% share, stable on June. The Avante is also #1 in the 2011 year-to-date ranking at 75,846 units and 8.6%. Six months after the launch of its new generation, the Kia Morning is back to 2nd place at a very solid 7.8% market share thanks to 9,930 sales, also passing the Hyundai Grandeur to establish itself in 2nd position in 2011 overall with 71,004 units and 8.1% vs. 70,957 for the Grandeur.

Samsung SM7

The Hyundai Sonata is back in shape, up to #4 and almost one percentage point on June at 7% and 8,922 sales, while the new look Hyundai Accent is up 6 spots to #16 at 2,707 units and 2.1% and the all new Samsung SM7 is up to #20 with 2,075 sales and 1.6%.

Previous month: see the June 2011 South Korea post here.

Full July 2011 Top 50 Ranking Table below.

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