South Korea April 2015: New Hyundai Tucson shoots up to #2

Hyundai Tucson

* Now updated with Top 140 foreign models, Top 53 local models & Top 30 All-brands *

This time South Korea is the first cab off the April sales rank. Sales of local models are up 3% year-on-year in South Korea this month to 133,935 registrations, bringing the year-to-date total to 475,973 units, also up 2% on 2014. Below the Hyundai Porter holding onto its unusual pole position (9.455 sales), the big April event in South Korea is the arrival of the new generation Hyundai Tucson, making the nameplate’s sales more than double on March to land in 2nd place overall at 9.255 units and crack the year-to-date Top 10 at #10. As a result, Hyundai monopolises the Top 4 (Sonata #3 and Grandeur #4) and gets a market share boost to 47.1% vs. 32.1% for sister company Kia. The Ssangyong Tivoli is up two spots to #15 and posts its strongest volume to-date at 3.420 while the Samsung QM3 (aka Renault Captur) is up 11 ranks to #28.

The Mercedes S-Class is the 3rd best-selling foreign nameplate in South Korea.

Over on the imported aisle totalling 18.205 registrations and 12% of the overall market vs. 14% year-to-date, Mercedes reclaims the lead off BMW at 4.135 deliveries vs. 3.798 with Volkswagen (2.612) passing Audi at an unusually weak 1.010 units. Ford is back up 4 spots to 5th foreigner above Mini, Toyota, Lexus and Peugeot. The Mercedes E-Class returns to the #1 foreigner position thanks to 1.535 sales, distancing the BMW 5 Series (1.424) while the Mercedes S-Class climbs on the podium with an outstanding 1.125 deliveries. The VW Tiguan, Golf and BMW 3 Series follow. Great gainers this month include the Mini Cooper up 5 spots to #8, the Ford Explorer up 8 to #9, VW Jetta up 15 to #10 and the Peugeot 2008 up1 1 to #12.

Previous month: South Korea March 2015: Hyundai Porter and Sonata on top

One year ago: South Korea April 2014: New Hyundai Sonata shoots up to #1

Full April 2015 Top 30 All-brands, Top 53 local models and Top 140 foreigners below.