South Korea 1994-1995: Hyundai Sonata tops market stabilised at 1.5m

The Hyundai Sonata is #1 in South Korea in 1994 and 1995.

New car sales in South Korea slow down their growth in 1994 at “only” +7.9% to cross the symbolic 1.5 million milestone at 1.503.881. Hyundai (+16.1%) for once doubles the market growth to soar to 49.1% share whereas Kia (-9%) drops over five percentage points of share to 28.3%. Daewoo (+11.3%) once again outpaces the market to eclipse the 20% share mark at 20.1%. Ssangyong (+112.8%) revives to 2.2% and Ford (+50.3%) tops foreigners but with just 0.1% of the market. Over in the models ranking, we have a third Hyundai leader in four years: this time it’s the Sonata (+55.9%) who becomes the favourite at home thanks to a new generation, toppling the Elantra (+17.9%) after two years. The Kia Sephia (-1.1%) leaps up two spots to land on the podium despite edging down, while the Hyundai Porter (+15.9%) is up 3 to #4. The Hyundai Accent replaces the Excel (-78.3%) and lands directly at #5. The Daewoo Prince (+32.5%) is up 3 ranks to #7, becoming the brand’s best-seller above the Espero (+9.3%) just as the LeMans (-40.9%) tumbles down to #12 now that its replacement, the Cielo appears at #13.

The Kia Sephia repeats at #3 in 1994 and 1995.

In 1995, the South Korean new car market marks a pause (-0.5%) and its first year-on-year drop of the decade at 1.496.014 sales. Hyundai (+3.3%) crosses the 50% share milestone for the first time since we started tracking South Korea in 1990 at 51%. Kia (+4.5%) also improves its share to 29.7% but Daewoo (-17.8%) is down 3.5 points to 16.6%. Chrysler (+63.7%) becomes the best-selling foreigner above Mercedes (+112.3%) and Ford (-8.6%), all three carmakers selling over 1.000 units for the year. Model-wise, the Hyundai Sonata (+6.2%) remains the best-seller and hits a mammoth 13% share but there’s a new kid in town: the Hyundai Avante, replacing the Elantra and landing directly at #2 with over 157.000 sales. The Kia Sephia (+8.9%) remains in third place above the Hyundai Porter (-3.3%) and Accent (-2.4%). The Daewoo Prince (+21.5%) reaches 6.2% share thanks to over 92.000 sales which would remain its best-ever year, while the Kia Credos (aka Clarus) lands directly at #10.

The Daewoo Princes reaches a record 92.359 sales in 1995.

Full Year 1994 Top 22 All-brands and Top 60 All-models below.