South Korea May 2022: Hyundai Casper breaks records in market edging down -3.3%

The Hyundai Casper is up to a record #8 at home in May.

The South Korean new car market edges down -3.3% year-on-year in May to 143,319 units, including 119,807 local vehicles (-3.5%) and 23,512 foreigners (-2.4%). Year-to-date, volumes are now down -11.5% to 656,047 including 547,733 (-11.6%) for locals and 108,314 (-10.9%) for foreigners. Hyundai (+4.3%) tops the brands charts for only the second time this year with 35.7% share but this is enough to reclaim the YTD pole position at 33.4% share. Kia (-4.7%) is down to 31.9% for the month and 33.1% year-to-date. Genesis (-6.1%) remains at #3 with over 12,000 units sold and 8.5% share, identical to its YTD level. Mercedes (-3.9%) is the most popular foreign carmaker again, distancing BMW (+2.3%). Ssangyong (-13.7%), Renault Samsung (-19.6%) and GM Korea (-39.8%) all fall apart below. Audi (+714.4%) off a low base and Volkswagen (-13%) round out the Top 10. Notice also Jaguar (+200%), Lincoln (+86.5%), Land Rover (+48.5%) and Bentley (+33.9%) all securing stellar year-on-year lifts.

In the local models ranking, the Hyundai Porter (+19.8%) cements its lead with almost 8,300 sales and now has a 7,453-unit advantage year-to-date over the #2, the Kia Bongo (+23.3%). The latter falls to #3 this month but posts a fantastic year-on-year gain. The Hyundai Grandeur (-2.6%) roughly matches the market and is up three spots on April to #2 overall. The Kia Carnival (-24%) is up two to #4, overtaking the Kia Sorento (-22.2%) and Hyundai Avante (-26.6%). The Kia Sportage (+443.3%) is still enjoying the honeymoon period of its new generation while the new Hyundai Casper breaks ranking (#8) and volume records this month. Further down, the Kia Ray (+5%), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (+59.1%), Kia Niro (+66%) and Genesis G90 (+251.8%) all in fantastic shape.

In the foreign models aisle, the Mercedes E-Class (+47.7%) reinforces its dominance by selling double the volume of the #2, the BMW 5 Series (-16.7%). The Mercedes S-Class (-42.3%) remains in third place while we have two Teslas in the Top 5: the Model Y (-71.2%) at #4 and the Model 3 (+630.2%) at #5. The Audi A6 leaps up six spots on April to #6, the BMW 3 Series (+11.8%) is down two to #7 and the Mercedes GLE (-18.5%) up 14 to #8. Notice also the VW Arteon (+894.1%) up 19 ranks to #11, the VW Tiguan (+103.3%) up 18 to #16 and the Mercedes A-Class (+13.6%) up 28 to #17. The Ford Bronco makes its entrance in the Korean Top 50 foreign models directly at #30.

Previous month: South Korea April 2022: Kia #1 for 3rd time in 4 months, Hyundai Porter and Kia Bongo on top

One year ago: South Korea May 2021: Hyundai Grandeur #1 YTD, Staria up to #15 in market down -12.5%

Full May 2022 Top 30 All-brands, Top 55 all local models and Top 50 foreigners below.