Best Selling Cars – Matt's blog

Kia Morning

* See the Top 40 best-selling local models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to DC *

For only the second time in potentially the last 5 years after February 2011, the Kia Morning (aka Picanto) leads the South Korean models ranking with 7,465 sales and 8.7% share. It is however still #3 year-to-date at 63,068 units and 7%. The Hyundai Sonata is up one spot to #2 with 6,784 sales and 7.8% and is also #2 year-to-date at 64,695 units and 7.2%. #1 over 7 of the last 12 months and leader year-to-date with 70,953 sales and 7.9%, the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) is down to #3 this month at 5,629 sales and 6.6%.

Chevrolet Spark

The Hyundai Grandeur is up 2 spots on July to #4, the Chevrolet Spark is up 3 to a brilliant 5th position with 5,054 units and 5.9% (vs. 4.8% year-to-date), the Hyundai Santa Fe is down 3 to #7, the Kia Sportage is up 3 to #9 and the Kia Sorento is up one to #10. Notice also the Kia Forte up 3 ranks to #16 and the SsangYong Korando C up 3 to #20.

Previous month: South Korea July 2012: Hyundai Avante leads, Santa Fe #4

One year ago: South Korea August 2011: Samsung SM7 up to #8

Full August 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Hyundai Santa Fe

* See the Top 40 best-selling models by clicking on the title! Many thanks to DC *

South Korean consumers bought 121,426 new local cars this month, down 5% on July 2011 and bringing the year-to-date total to 811,572 units, down 8% on 2011. For only the third time this year after March and April, the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) leads the models ranking with 10,177 sales and 8.4% share and cements its 2012 year-to-date domination at 65,324 units and 8%. Both the Kia Morning at #2 and 8,379 sales and the Hyundai Sonata at #3 and 8,318 are up one spot on June.

Samsung QM5

Leader last month, the Hyundai Santa Fe is down to #4 in July, delivering a still very solid 7,989 sales for a 6.6% market share. It is now #8 year-to-date at 4% vs. #18 in 2011. The Hyundai Porter at #5 and Grandeur at #6 make it 5 Hyundais in the Top 6. Further down, notice the Kia Sorento R up 2 spots to #11 thanks to its facelift, the Samsung SM3 back up 8 to #20, the SsangYong Korando C up 4 to #23, the SsangYong Rexton W up 3 to #30 and the Samsung QM5 back in the Top 40 at #40.

Previous month: South Korea June 2012: Hyundai Santa Fe in pole position!

One year ago: South Korea July 2011: Kia Picanto #2, new Samsung SM7 up

Full July 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Hyundai Santa Fe

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

Sales of new local cars in South Korea are down 3% year-on-year in June to 123,403 units, bringing the year-to-date total to 690,146 units, down 8% on 2011. Massive change in the models ranking: the new generation Hyundai Santa Fe takes the lead as early as for its first full month of sales with a brilliant 10,423 sales and 8.4% share. Talk about instant success!  Last month I had predicted the Santa Fe could have a serious shot at the #1 spot in the coming months and for the first time since 2004 and it has happened already!

As a result the Hyundai Avante is #2 this month but stays comfortably on top year-to-date with 55,147 sales and 8% share. Good holding of the Kia Morning at #3 with 8,774 units and 7.1%, while the Hyundai Sonata, #1 last month, is down to #4. The Hyundai Porter is up 2 spots to #5, the Kia K5 down 2 to #6 and the Hyundai Grandeur down one to #7.

Further down, notice the Kia Sorento up 4 spots to #13, the Hyundai Genesis up 6 to #20, the Kia K9 stable at #21 for its second month in market with 1,703 sales and the facelifted SsangYong Rexton W back into the Top 40 at #33. Brandwise, Samsung falls to a new low and is passed by SsangYong this month to rank #5 and last local brand…

Previous month: South Korea May 2012: New gen Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia K9 land

One year ago: South Korea June 2011: Hyundai Avante back to #1, new Samsung QM5 up

Full June 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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Hyundai Santa Fe

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

Sales of new local cars are up just 0.7% year-on-year in May in South Korea to 120,574 units, bringing the year-to-date total to 566,743 units, down 9% on 2011. For the first time since last January and only the second time in the last two years the Hyundai Sonata is in the lead of the models ranking this month with 9,236 sales and 7.7%, ahead of the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) at 8,758 units and 7.3% but still in pole position in 2012 year-to-date with 45,325 sales and 8% vs. 42,088 and 7.4% for the Sonata. The Kia Morning (aka Picanto) rounds up the podium at 8,314 units and 6.9% but ranks #4 in 2012.

Just below the Kia K5 solid at #4 and 6.5%, the new generation Hyundai Santa Fe shoots up to a fantastic 5th position thanks to 7,809 sales for a 6.5% market share. In the coming few months the Santa Fe could have a serious go at the #1 spot overall for the first time since 2004… Further down, we welcome an all-new model in the ranking: the Kia K9 lands directly in 21st position with 1,500 sales and 1.4%.

Previous month: South Korea April 2012: Hyundai Accent at best-ever #12

One year ago: South Korea May 2011: Hyundai Grandeur keeps the lead

Full May 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.

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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 marks 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 2010: Hyundai Sonata and Avante shine

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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