South Korea June 2025: Kia Sorento and Hyundai Avante on top

Hyundai Avante sales are up 55.7% at home in June.

23/07 update: Now with Top 50 foreign models.

New light vehicle sales in South Korea gain a solid 5.9% year-on-year in June to 145,486 units. This includes 117,707 sales for local manufacturers (+5%) and 27,779 for foreigners (+9.8%). H1 volumes are up 3.6% to 824,806 units including 686,686 locals (+2.4%) and 138,128 foreigners (+9.9%). Hyundai (+8.2%) confirms it is the most popular brand at home with 35.5% share, distancing sister carmaker Kia (+4.6%) at 31.8%. Genesis (-13.6%) struggles but is back above the 10,000 sales mark for the 4th time this year. BMW (+6.2%) climbs up two spots on last month to #4, Tesla (+20.5%) is down one to #5 as is Mercedes (-9.4%) to #6. Renault Korea (+145.6%) continues to take advantage of the success of the Grand Koleos and maintains itself at #7. Lexus (+17.5%) is back inside the Top 10 just as Porsche (+295.5%), Polestar (+866.7%) and Volkswagen (+79.3%) all post fantastic gains. Newcomer BYD slips out of the Top 20 at #21 with a minuscule 0.2% share.

Looking at local models, the Kia Sorento (+8.4%) delivers a 10th straight monthly win and still manages to beat its home market. The Hyundai Avante (+55.7%) is up two spots on May to #2, distancing the Kia Carnival (-17.1%) in difficulty and a strong Kia Sportage (+9.4%). The Hyundai Grandeur (-2.2%) is shy and closes out the Top 5 as it does YTD. Lifted 329.8% YoY by the new generation, the Hyundai Palisade however loses four ranks on a record May showing to fall to a still very respectable 6th place. It ranks #7 year-to-date. The new Renault Korea Grand Koleos is up one spot to #13, it is by far the best-selling recent launch above the Kia EV3 (#22) and Kia Tasman (#24).

As for foreign models, the Tesla Model Y (+81%) is ultra dominant again and snaps the YTD pole position in the process. In fact the entire Top 5 is unchanged on May, with the Mercedes E Class (+4.8%), BMW 5 Series (+43.3%), Mercedes GLC (+20.9%) and GLE (+16.1%) in tow. The Porsche Cayenne (+592.6%), Mercedes C Class (+90.3%), BMW 3 Series (+31.7%) and X7 (+23.4%) also shine below.

Previous month: South Korea May 2025: Hyundai Palisade breaks records in stable market

One year ago: South Korea June 2024: Weak sales, Hyundai back above Kia YTD

Full June 2025 Top 32 All brands, Top 57 All local models and Top 50 foreign models below.