South Korea October 2012: Kia K3 up to 6th place

Kia K3

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

The South Korean new car market (excluding imports) is up 3% to 124,106 registrations in October, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,137,032 units, down 8% on 2011. For the 4th time this year after January, May and September, the Hyundai Sonata is the most popular model in the country thanks to 9,834 sales and 8.9% share, albeit just 22 units above the Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) at 9,812… Year-to-date, the Avante still leads by far with 91,068 sales and 8% vs. 85,349 and 7.5% for the Sonata. Note Sonata figures include 2,026 Hybrids.

Hyundai Santa Fe

For the 2nd time in the last 12 months after last January, the Top 4 best-sellers are 100% Hyundai: the Porter stays #3 with an excellent 8,649 units and 7% share while the Santa Fe is up 2 spots on September to #4 with 7,765 sales and 6.3%. But the big event this month is the arrival in 6th place of the all-new Kia K3, already more doubling last month’s score at 7,632 units and 6.1%, only 134 sales away for the #4 spot! The K3 totals 11,248 sales after just 2 months.

Chevrolet Malibu

Other great performers this month include the Hyundai Grand Starex back to #10 after a month off in September (#34), the SsangYong Korando C up to #19 at 1,681 units and 1.4%, the Chevrolet Malibu up 13 spots to #20 with 1,630 sales and 1.3%, its highest ever ranking in the country, beating the #21 spot it hit in November 2011, and the Chevrolet Aveo up 8 to #32.

Previous month: South Korea September 2012: Kia K3 lands directly at #10

One year ago: South Korea October 2011: Kia K5 back on podium

Full October 2012 Top 40 Ranking Table below.