South Korea 1992-1993: Hyundai Elantra takes the relay in market up to 1.4m

The Hyundai Elantra is the new best-seller at home.

New car sales in South Korea continue to gallop ahead in 1992 at +18.8% year-on-year to 1.217.411 units. Hyundai (+17.4%) and Kia (+22.2%) manage to remain competitive at stabilise their share at 46.7% and 34% respectively. Daewoo (+19.7%) once again outpaces the market to edge up to 17.8% share but Ssangyong (-16.5%) continues to freefall at just 1.3% of its home market. Ford (+646.5%) reclaims the title of most popular foreign brand off Volvo (-11.2%) but only manages a tiny 0.1% share. Over in the models ranking, the Hyundai Elantra (+44.2%) topples the Excel (-4.7%) to lodge its first annual win at home, while the Kia Pride (+14.9%) remains dynamic at 10.4% share. Hyundai and Kia monopolise the Top 6 with the Porter (+46.2%), Sonata (+1%) and E-Series (-5.3%) while the Daewoo LeMans (-9.1%) continues to slide at #7 to the opposite of the Daewoo Tico (+87.3%) up to #8 for its first full year in market.

Daewoo holds 19.5% share in 1993, its best-seller being the LeMans.

It’s another fantastic year for new car sales in South Korea in 1993: up 14.5% year-on-year to 1.393.464 units. Hyundai (+12%) and Kia (+13%) are just below the market growth and still account for just under 80% of their home market. Daewoo (+25%) continues to outpace its home market to reach 19.5% share, its highest since our records started in 1990. Ford (-12.9%) remains the #1 foreigner but is now threatened by Chrysler (+535.2%). Model-wise, the Hyundai Elantra (+4.9%) repeats at #1 with a round 10$% share while the Hyundai Excel (+7.3%) climbs back up one spot to #2 and the Hyundai Sonata (+10%) does the same to #3, triggering the first 100% Hyundai podium since we started tracking South Korea annually in 1990. Three Kias follow: the Pride (-9.5%), new Sephia (+340.8%) and E-Series (+2.7%), and three Daewoos close the Top 10: the LeMans (+9.8%), Espero (+56.8%) and Prince (+152.8%). The Kia Sportage (#20) is the best-selling newcomer.

Full Year 1992 and 1993 Top 20 All-brands and Top 55 All-models below.