South Korea March 2025: Hyundai and Kia Sorento #1, BYD and Kia Tasman land

The Kia Tasman has landed in its home sales charts.

The South Korean new car market edges up 2.4% year-on-year in March to 149,120 units. This includes 123,891 sales for local manufacturers (+2.9%) and 25,229 for foreigners (-0.1%). The year-to-date tally is up similarly at +2.8% to 387,702 including 327,045 locals (+1.4%) and 60,657 foreigners (+11.1%). Hyundai (+3.6%) repeats at #1 with 35.2% share and snaps the Q1 crown off sister brand Kia (+2%) at 33.6% share for the month. Genesis (-10.5%) suffers but still manages to post a five-digit volume, holding 7.1% of its home market. Mercedes (+61.1%) is back above BMW (-2.6%) in the race for foreigner supremacy. Renault Korea (+200%) is still on a roll, with Volvo (+31.7%) and Lexus (+16.1%) also impressive. BYD makes its grand entrance in the South Korean market with an initial 10 sales.

No surprises atop the domestic models charts: the Kia Sorento (+13.2%) delivers a 7th straight month in pole position and a 16th win in the past 19 months. It is once again followed by the Kia Carnival (+0.9%). The Hyundai Avante (+63.1%) overtakes the Kia Sportage to snap the third step of the podium with the Hyundai Grandeur (+1.8%) rounding out the Top 5. The Kia Seltos (+12.7%) is solid at #8 while the Renault Grand Koleos is back inside the Top 10 at #9 and the Hyundai Palisade (+134%) is boosted by a new model to #10. We welcome a new set of KGM Musso models as well as the Kia Tasman pickup truck.

Looking at foreign models, the Mercedes E-Class (+511.1%) reclaims the lead both for the month and over Q1, while the Tesla Model 3 surges 15526.7% year-on-year (!) to #2 and now ranks #3 year-to-date. Meanwhile the Model Y is down -97% to #37. The BMW 5 Series (-9.5%), Mercedes GLC (+6.1%) and Lexus ES (-29.1%) complete the Top 5. Notice also the Volvo EX30 cracking the Top 10 at #9 and both the Ford Explorer (+272.9%) and Lexus NX (+222.1%) sporting outstanding gains.

Previous month: South Korea February 2025: Kia monopolises podium again but Hyundai #1

One year ago: South Korea March 2024: Kia Sorento signs 6th win in past 7 months, Tesla Model Y triumphs

Full March 2025 Top 32 All brands, Top 57 All domestic models and Top 50 foreign models below.