South Korea October 2019: Hyundai monopolises Top 5, Sonata now #1 YTD

The Hyundai Sonata is now the YTD best-seller at home.

19/11 update: Now with the Top 10 foreign models.

New car sales in South Korea are back in negative in October at -2.1% year-on-year to 156.996 registrations including 134.895 locals (-3.3%) and 22.101 foreigners (+6.2%), leading to a year-to-date tally down -3.5% to 1.437.926 units including 1.242.380 locals (-2.3%) and 195.546 foreigners (-10.4%). Homegrown behemoth Hyundai (-0.2%) stabilises its sales while sister brand Kia (+2.3%) advances to 30% share vs. 29.3% YTD. Renault Samsung (-4.7%) remans in third place above Ssangyong (-20.2%) while Mercedes (+26%) is down one spot on September to #5 overall, once again outselling GM Korea (-22.7%). Audi (+533.2%), Jaguar (+109.1%), Jeep/Chrysler (+97.2%), BMW (+93.4%) and Volvo (+36.8%) all post explosive growth in the remainder of the Top 25, while among small carmaker Lamborghini (+2300%) takes off.

Model-wise, Hyundai monopolises the Top 5 for the third time this year after last February (Top 6) and March (Top 5), with the Sonata lurching 69% year-on-year thanks to the new generation to 10.688 sales, a score that earns it the YTD top spot. The last time the Sonata was been South Korea’s annual best-seller was in 2015. The Grandeur (+9.2%), Porter (-24%), Santa Fe (-31.7%) and Avante (-9.1%) complete the Top 5, distancing four Kias: the K7 (+72.3%), Seltos (new), Bongo (-1.3%) and Carnival (-29.2%) while the Samsung QM6 shoots up 38.1% year-on-year to close the Top 10. Among other recent launches (<12 months), the Hyundai Palisade is up two spots on last moth to #17, the Hyundai Venue down 8 to #20, the Chevrolet Colorado up 4 to #51 and the Chevrolet Traverse lands at #55.

Previous month: South Korea September 2019: Hyundai Santa Fe back to #1, Kia Seltos up to #4, Mercedes up 4-fold in market up 4.1%

One year ago: South Korea October 2018: EV pushes Hyundai Kona to record, market up 23.8%

Full October 2019 Top 30 All-brands, Top 60 All local models and Top 10 foreign models below.