South Korea November 2021: Kia Sportage takes charge in market off -15.5%

The Kia Sportage is the best-selling vehicle in South Korea in November.

New car sales in South Korea skid down -15.5% year-on-year in November to 144,546 units, including 126,136 sales for local manufacturers (-12.2%) and 18,410 for foreigners (-32.9%). The year-to-date tally now stands at 1,560,055 units, down 8% year-on-year and including 1,308,213 locals (-10.7%) and 251,842 foreigners (+8.1%). Brand leaders Hyundai (-11.8%) and Kia (-8.9%) both resist better than the market to reach 36.9% and 31.9% share respectively, adding up to 68.8% of the market vs. 65.8% year-to-date. Genesis (+22.9%) soars ahead to remain in third place while Ssangyong (-32.3%) is back up three spots on last month to #4 despite a drastic fall. Renault Samsung (-15%) follows the market and ensures the Top 5 is entirely local. BMW (-24.9%) remains the best-selling foreigner just as Mercedes (-50.7%) freefalls and Audi (-7.7%) is relatively solid. It’s a month to forget for GM Korea (-60.1%) and Volkswagen (-66%) but Volvo (+3.9%) signs the only year-on-year gain in the Top 12. Below, Bentley (+276%), Citroen (+59.3%), Ford (+32.8%) and Honda (+17.2%) score the only additional upticks.

In the local models ranking, the Kia Sportage (+354.8%) is lifted by its new generation to a first monthly win in 17 years with over 7,500 sales, whereas it ranks #18 year-to-date The Hyundai Porter (-9.6%) is back up 5 ranks on October to #2 and cements its year-to-date pole position. It distances last month’s leader the Hyundai Grandeur (-40.6%) in difficulty. In a strong month for light commercials, the Kia Bongo (+17.1%) is up six spots on last month to #4 ahead of the Hyundai Avante (-27.2%) and Sonata (+2.8%). The Kia K8 (+35.8%) is the only additional gainer in the Top 10 while the new Hyundai Casper is up 9 ranks to a record #11 with just under 4,000 sales. Further down, Samsung QM6 (+2.8%), Ssangyong Korando Sports (+4.4%) and Kia Ray (+9.7%) advance in the remainder of the Top 20. The new Genesis GV60 climbs up six ranks to #41.

The Audi A6 (-23%) repeats as the best-selling foreign vehicle in South Korea this month, with the Tesla Model 3 (+31.5%) the only other model selling more than 1,000 units in November. The Mercedes S-Class (+164.7%) is up one spot to end the month on the third step of the podium and distances the BMW 5 Series (-60.4%) and Lexus ES (+7.7%). The Volvo XC40 (+222.7%), Mercedes GLE (+44%), BMW 3 Series (+8.8%) and Ford Explorer (+4.7%) shine while the Tesla Model Y lands at #10.

Previous month: South Korea October 2021: Genesis G80 on podium, Hyundai Ioniq 5 in Top 10 in market down -21.6%

One year ago: South Korea November 2020: Hyundai Tucson up to #4 in improving market (+7.3%)

Full November 2021 Top 30 All-brands, Top 53 local models and Top 50 foreigners below.