South Korea October 2024: Kia Seltos breaks record, Renault Grand Koleos inside Top 10

The Grand Koleos accounts for 84% of Renault Korea sales in October.

New car sales in South Korea progress +5.1% year-on-year in October to 145,444 units. For once this is solely due to the domestic manufacturers’ performance at +6.1% to 124,195. Reversely foreign carmakers edge down -0.4% to 21,249. Year-to-date, the overall market drops -5.8% to 1,342,396 including 1,126,416 for local brands (-6.5%) and 215,980 for foreigners (-1.4%). Hyundai (-4.4%) underperforms but still lodges a fantastic 37.3% share vs. 35% so far this year. Kia (+8%) beats its home market but ends the month a whopping 7,847 units below sister brand Hyundai, lifting the year-to-date gap between the two brands to 16,616. Genesis (+40.3%) posts a stellar gain for its 12th consecutive month above 10,000 sales, distancing Mercedes (-2.8%). Renault Korea (+340.7%) is the hero of the month once again and reaches its highest level since June 2022 at #5 with 4.4% share.

The Kia Sorento (-9.3%) is the best-selling car in the country for the 8th time in the past 10 months, cementing its YTD domination. The Hyundai Grandeur (-9.3%) and Hyundai Santa Fe (-12.4%) also lose ground year-on-year to round out a podium unchanged on last month. In the process the Grandeur is up to #5 year-to-date and the Santa Fe up to #3. The Kia Seltos (+126.8%) spectacularly breaks its volume record to 6,822 (previous best 6,139 in November 2019), equalling its highest ranking at #4, also reached in September 2019. The Hyundai Tucson (+85.5%) outsells its archenemy the Kia Sportage (+17.5%), with the Kia Carnival (+43.5%) and Hyundai Avante (+19.4%) also strong. The new Renault Grand Koleos breaks into the Top 10 at #10, representing 84% of the brand’s total sales for the month. This is the first time a Renault Korea model is inside the Top 10 since the QM6 (Koleos) hit #10 in June 2022. Orders for the Grand Koleos have exceeded 15,000 units.

Looking at the foreign models charts, the Mercedes E-Class (-28.9%) confirms its leadership despite a daunting year-on year loss. The podium is a replica of the YTD ranking with the BMW 5 Series (+221.9%) and Tesla Model Y (-66.2%) in tow. Below, the Mercedes GLC (+72.5%), Lexus ES (+27.2%), Mercedes S Class (+21.5%) and Volvo XC60 (+16.2%) all deliver excellent results.  

Previous month: South Korea September 2024: Renault Grand Koleos up to #12

One year ago: South Korea October 2023: Hyundai defies negative market, Kia Sorento #1 again, Hyundai Santa Fe #3

Full October 2024 Top 30 All brands, Top 55 All domestic cars and Top 50 foreign cars below.