South Korea First Half 2017: Discover all foreign brands/models data (BSCB Exclusive)

Mercedes E-Class sales are up 180% year-on-year in South Korea. 

* See the Top 32 All-brands and Top 168 All-foreign models by clicking on the title *

We now have access to foreign brands and models data for South Korea over the First Half of 2017. While local brands are down 4% over the period to 779.694 units, foreign brands actually gain ground at +1% to 118.465 units, seeing their market share go from 12.6% to 13.2%. Overall, the South Korean new car market is down 3% to 898.159 sales. In fact, most foreign brands post double-digit gains over the period but all this progress is counterbalanced by the imploding of Audi (-93%) and Volkswagen (-100%) hit by stop sales on their entire range. As such, below the five local brands Mercedes surges 54% to 4.2% share and BMW shoots up 25% to 3.2%, with all other manufacturers only managing 0.7% share or less. Lexus (+30%), Honda (+73%), Toyota (+21%), Volvo (+36%), Nissan (+21%), Jeep (+38%) and Jaguar (+46%) all shine inside the Top 20 while further down, Fiat (+216%), Cadillac (+109%), Citroen (+207%), DS (+1180%), Rolls Royce (+50%) and Lamborghini (+91%) make themselves noticed.

The 500X is now by far the brand’s best-seller in South Korea. Picture encarmagazine.com 

Over in the foreign models ranking, the Mercedes E-Class sees its sales soar almost 3-fold year-on-year (+180%) to an incredible 18.499 units, which earns it a Top 20 ranking when including local nameplates. The BMW 5 Series, #1 a year ago, is largely distanced and only manages a meagre 1% gain. The BMW 3 Series (+21%) rounds up the podium above the Mercedes C-Class (+53%), Lexus ES (+39%) and Honda Accord (+104%). The Ford Explorer gains three spots to #7, the Toyota Camry is also up three to #9 and the BMW 1 Series is up eight to break into the Top 10 at #10. Other great gainers in the Top 20 include the Nissan Altima (+73%), Mercedes GLE (+61%), BMW 5 Series GT (+66%) and  BMW X5 (+67%). Further down, notice also the Fiat 500X up 80 spots to #31 an the Jeep Cherokee up 70 to #34. Regarding new launches, they are led by the Volvo S90 (#41) followed by the Jaguar F-Pace (#51), Citroen C4 Cactus (#60), Mercedes GLS (#61) and Infiniti Q30 (#62).

Previous post: South Korea July 2017: Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic land

One year ago: South Korea First Half 2016: Samsung SM6 instant blockbuster

Full H1 2017 Top 32 All-brands and Top 168 All-foreign models below.