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South Korea August 2015: Facelifted Chevrolet Spark soars to #4

Chevrolet Spark South Korea August 2015. Picture courtesy carlab.co.krThe 2016 model boosts the Chevrolet Spark up to #4 this month.

* See the Top 45 local models, Top 145 foreigners & Top 30 brands by clicking on the title *

New car sales in South Korea are up an impressive 13% year-on-year in August to 138.600 registrations, and for once the market growth is due to local models (+14%) more so than foreign ones (+11%). Hyundai (+6%) loses market share to 36.9% vs. 39% year-to-date while sister brand Kia (+16%) improves to 30.1% vs. 29% so far in 2015. GM Korea (+16%) also outpaces the market, Ssangyong gains 46% thanks to the Tivoli and Renault Samsung (+31%) also displays unusual strength. Mercedes (+19%) remains the most popular foreign carmaker above BMW (+13%) and Volkswagen (+25%) while Audi (+1%) marks a pause. Boosted by impressive success of its 2008, Peugeot breaks into the Korean Top 10 at #10 – albeit with a meagre 633 sales and 0.5% share, up almost 3-fold on August 2014. Notice also Porsche up 115% to #14 thanks to the Macan.

Hyundai Avante South Korea August 2015. Picture courtesy leaderyou.co.kr2016 Hyundai Avante

Two facelifts impact the top of the models charts this month: pre-sales of the new Hyundai Avante (aka Elantra) and runout sales of the outgoing generation boost the nameplate to pole position with 8.806 units, distancing the Sonata (+12%) and Santa Fe (+62%). The Chevrolet Spark soars 13 spots on July to a record-breaking 4th place and 6.987 deliveries (+53%) thanks to the arrival of the 2016 model, knocking the Kia Morning down to #5. The Kia Sorento (+181%), Kia K5 (+71%), Kia Bongo (+32%), Chevrolet Malibu (+19%) and Trax (+32%) and Samsung SM7 (+191%) shine, and we welcome the Chevrolet Impala in the South Korean ranking this month, landing at #42 with a shy 242 deliveries.

Audi A6 South Korea August 2015The Audi A6 is the 2nd best-selling foreign model in South Korea in August.

The Mercedes E-Class remains the most popular foreign model in South Korea in August, but is closely followed this time by the Audi A6 at 1.358 sales vs. 1.411, knocking the BMW 5 Series down to #3 while the Mercedes C-Class is up 7 spots on July and 87% year-on-year to #4. The VW Golf (+71%), Audi A3 (+98%), Mercedes CLA (+155%) and VW Passat (+203%) also impress, while the Peugeot 2008 breaks into the Top 10 foreigners for the very first time thanks to 441 sales or 70% of the brand’s sales in the country this month. Notice also the Audi A7 up to #11, the Jeep Cherokee up to #20 and the BMW X4 up to #29.

Previous post (1): South Korea July 2015: Now with Top 30 brands & Top 145 foreigners

Previous post (2): South Korea 1st Half 2015: Hyundai Porter takes control

Previous month: South Korea July 2015: Facelifted Hyundai Santa Fe triumphs

One year ago (1): South Korea August 2014: Hyundai Avante #1, Kia Sorento up

One year ago (2): South Korea August 2014: Now with Top 190 All-models ranking

Full August 2015 Top 45 local models, Top 145 foreigners and Top 30 brands below.

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