South Korea September 2016: Santa Fe leads, Samsung QM6 in Top 20

The Renault Koleos is sold as the Samsung QM6 in South Korea.

* NOW UPDATED with the Top 30 All-brands, Top 57 All-local models & Top 133 foreigners *

New car sales in South Korea are down a harsh 14% year-on-year in September to 127.811 units, meaning the year-to-date tally is now up just 1% on the same period last year to 1.295.479. In fact, the drop would have been even more significant were it not for the stellar performance of Renault Samsung, up 40% on its September 2015 score thanks to the arrival in the meantime of the SM6 aka Renault Talisman ranking #9 this month with 4.217 sales and the thunderous appearance of the QM6 aka Renault Koleos directly at #20 with 2.536 deliveries in September.

The Mercedes E-Class is the best-selling foreign model in South Korea once again. 

Hyundai skids down 22%, Kia 15% and GM Korea 14%, with Ssangyong down just 1% thanks to the Tivoli once again inside the Top 10 at #10 with 4.056 sales. Mercedes (+18%), BMW (-14%) and Lexus (+36%) lead foreign manufacturers down 18% as a whole due to the imploding of Audi (-85%) and Volkswagen (-94%) hit full frontal by stop sale orders on the majority of their lineup. Land Rover (+432%), Toyota (+29%), Mini (+41%), Jaguar (+66%) and Infiniti (+84%) are among the biggest gainers in South Korea this month. Hyundai’s new premium brand Genesis ranks 9th overall and 4th premium below just Mercedes, BMW and Lexus.

First pole position since July 2015 for the Hyundai Santa Fe at home. 

The Hyundai Santa Fe flamboyantly takes the lead of the models ranking despite seeing its deliveries drop 2% year-on-year to 7.451. It distances the Kia Sorento (-10%), Hyundai Sonata (-24%), Kia Morning (-16%) and Chevrolet Spark (-9%). Leaders year-to-date, the Hyundai Avante (-40%) and Porter (-31%) are in complete freefall. The Kia K7 reversely is up 3-fold on September 2015 (+187%) and 7 ranks on August to #8, the Chevrolet Malibu continues its race upwards at #11 (+101%), the Kia Niro is stable at #23, the Genesis EQ900 down one spot to #26 and the Hyundai Ioniq down 8 to #40.

The BMW 7 Series shoots up to #7 among foreign models in South Korea this month. 

In the foreigners’ aisle, the Mercedes E-Class surges 44% to a splendid 2.781 sales, almost 3 times the amount of the #2, the BMW 5 Series at 1.044 (-24%) while the Mercedes C-Class (-25%) rounds up the podium above the Lexus ES (+35%) and BMW 3 Series (+55%). The BMW 7 Series soars to an exceptional 7th place, just below its archenemy the Mercedes S-Class (#6). Other great performers include the Mercedes GLC at #8, Infiniti Q50 at #15, Mini Clubman at #17, Mercedes A-Class at #26 and Citroen C4 Cactus at #34.

Previous month: South Korea August 2016: Hyundai and VW struggle, Samsung shines

One year ago: South Korea September 2015: Hyundai Avante stays ahead

Full September 2016 Top 30 All-brands, Top 57 All-local models & Top 133 foreigners below.