South Korea October 2025: Tesla (+244.4%), BYD (#12) can’t help market off -12.9%
Tesla sales are up 3-fold in South Korea.
After surging 20.8% last month, the South Korea new light vehicle market is back to earth in October at a painful -12.9% YoY to 126,747 units. This is entirely the fault of domestic models off -17.3% to 102,685 and 81% share just as foreigners gain 13.2% to 24,062 and 19% share. The year-to-date tally remains in positive however at +3.2% to 1,385,108 including 1,135,920 domestic models (+0.8%) and 249,188 foreigners (+15.4%). The Top 3 brands (all domestic) are hit hard: Hyundai is off -17.5%, Kia down -13.1% and Genesis drops -15%. In contrast BMW (+1%) edges up and gains two spots on last month to #4. It distances Mercedes (-9.2%) and Tesla (+244.4%) posting another fantastic result. Newcomer BYD breaks its ranking (#12) and share (0.7%) records.
The BYD Sealion 7 is among the Top 10 best-selling foreign models in October.
Over in the domestic models ranking, the Kia Sorento (-14.7%) skids but delivers a 21st win in the past 26 months and easily stays on top year-to-date. The Hyundai Avante (+0.4%) is stable and repeats at #2, a ranking it now also holds year-to-date, passing the Kia Carnival (-20%) down to #6 for the month. The Hyundai Grandeur (-31.7%), Santa Fe (-33.4%) and Sonata (-8.8%) complete the Top 5. The Hyundai Palisade (+152.4%) continues to benefit from the new generation but is stuck in 10th place vs. #7 through October. Other great gainers below include the Hyundai Kona (+26.7%), Genesis GV80 (+40.5%) and Kia Morning (+40.8%). The new Kia PV5 is up 13 spots on last month to #24 while the Kia Tasman disappoints at #37.
Looking at foreign models, the Tesla Model Y (+290.3%) continues to surge ahead, fuelling most of the foreign carmakers growth. The Mercedes E Class (-2.1%) and BMW 5 Series (-14%) round out the podium as they do year-to-date, with the Mercedes GLE (+121%) and GLC (-2.5%) in tow. The BMW X3 (+124%) and Tesla Model 3 (+110.6%) stun in the remainder of the Top 10, while the BMW 3 Series (+45.6%) is also very strong. Notably, the new BYD Sealion 7 posts a 2nd Top 10 finish in a row but is down 5 ranks on last month to #10.
Previous month: South Korea September 2025: Market up 20.8%, Tesla breaks records, Kia EV5 lands
One year ago: South Korea October 2024: Kia Seltos breaks record, Renault Grand Koleos inside Top 10
Full October 2025 Top 31 All brands, Top 63 All domestic models and Top 50 foreign models below.
South Korea October 2025 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Oct-25 | % | /24 | Sep | 2025 | % | /24 | Pos | FY24 |
| 1 | Hyundai | 44,762 | 35.3% | – 17.5% | 1 | 492,030 | 35.5% | + 4.6% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Kia | 40,344 | 31.8% | – 13.1% | 2 | 455,452 | 32.9% | + 0.4% | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Genesis | 9,060 | 7.1% | – 15.0% | 3 | 97,250 | 7.0% | – 14.0% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | BMW | 6,177 | 4.9% | + 1.0% | 6 | 64,015 | 4.6% | + 5.7% | 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Mercedes | 5,838 | 4.6% | – 9.2% | 5 | 54,121 | 3.9% | – 0.6% | 5 | 5 |
| 6 | Tesla | 4,350 | 3.4% | + 244.4% | 4 | 47,962 | 3.5% | + 92.8% | 6 | 8 |
| 7 | Renault Korea | 3,810 | 3.0% | – 40.4% | 7 | 43,925 | 3.2% | + 72.7% | 7 | 7 |
| 8 | KG Mobility | 3,537 | 2.8% | – 21.5% | 8 | 34,479 | 2.5% | – 16.3% | 8 | 6 |
| 9 | Volvo | 1,435 | 1.1% | + 23.6% | 11 | 11,929 | 0.9% | – 2.9% | 11 | 10 |
| 10 | Lexus | 1,226 | 1.0% | – 4.4% | 10 | 12,855 | 0.9% | + 12.0% | 9 | 11 |
| 11 | GM Korea | 1,172 | 0.9% | – 40.6% | 12 | 12,784 | 0.9% | – 39.7% | 10 | 9 |
| 12 | BYD | 824 | 0.7% | new | 13 | 3,791 | 0.3% | new | 19 | 30 |
| 13 | Toyota | 813 | 0.6% | + 7.8% | 14 | 7,887 | 0.6% | + 0.9% | 14 | 12 |
| 14 | Audi | 689 | 0.5% | – 26.9% | 9 | 9,547 | 0.7% | + 27.8% | 12 | 13 |
| 15 | Mini | 657 | 0.5% | + 22.1% | 16 | 6,262 | 0.5% | – 0.2% | 15 | 16 |
| 16 | Porsche | 594 | 0.5% | – 15.3% | 15 | 8,939 | 0.6% | + 32.5% | 13 | 14 |
| 17 | Polestar | 286 | 0.2% | + 1330.0% | 18 | 2,513 | 0.2% | + 484.4% | 20 | 23 |
| 18 | Land Rover | 259 | 0.2% | – 15.1% | 17 | 4,324 | 0.3% | + 22.1% | 16 | 17 |
| 19 | Ford | 216 | 0.2% | + 30.9% | 19 | 3,855 | 0.3% | + 23.7% | 18 | 18 |
| 20 | Volkswagen | 143 | 0.1% | – 80.7% | 21 | 4,048 | 0.3% | – 39.2% | 17 | 15 |
| 21 | Jeep | 127 | 0.1% | – 30.6% | 20 | 1,623 | 0.1% | – 26.8% | 21 | 19 |
| 22 | Honda | 87 | 0.1% | – 27.5% | 26 | 1,571 | 0.1% | – 24.9% | 22 | 20 |
| 23 | Peugeot | 74 | 0.1% | + 111.4% | 22 | 789 | 0.1% | + 0.3% | 24 | 22 |
| 24 | Cadillac | 71 | 0.1% | + 34.0% | 23 | 614 | 0.0% | + 6.2% | 25 | 24 |
| 25 | Bentley | 45 | 0.0% | + 25.0% | 25 | 292 | 0.0% | – 0.3% | 28 | 26 |
| 26 | Lincoln | 42 | 0.0% | – 72.7% | 24 | 1,016 | 0.1% | – 48.6% | 23 | 21 |
| 27 | Lamborghini | 31 | 0.0% | – 36.7% | 27 | 360 | 0.0% | – 3.2% | 26 | 25 |
| 28 | Maserati | 23 | 0.0% | + 43.8% | 29 | 221 | 0.0% | + 0.9% | 29 | 28 |
| 29 | GMC | 23 | 0.0% | – 36.1% | 30 | 208 | 0.0% | – 25.7% | 30 | 27 |
| 30 | Ferrari | 22 | 0.0% | n/a | 28 | 295 | 0.0% | n/a | 27 | 31 |
| 31 | Rolls-Royce | 10 | 0.0% | – 33.3% | 31 | 151 | 0.0% | + 0.7% | 31 | 29 |
| – | Total local manufacturers | 102,685 | 81.0% | – 17.3% | – | 1,135,920 | 82.0% | + 0.8% | – | – |
| – | Total foreign manufacturers | 24,062 | 19.0% | + 13.2% | – | 249,188 | 18.0% | + 15.4% | – | – |
| – | Total market | 126,747 | 100.0% | – 12.9% | – | 1,385,108 | 100.0% | + 3.2% | – | – |
South Korea October 2025 – domestic models:
| Pos | Model | Oct-25 | /24 | Sep | 2025 | /24 | Pos | FY24 |
| 1 | Kia Sorento | 6,788 | – 14.7% | 1 | 80,479 | + 6.9% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Hyundai Avante | 6,014 | + 0.4% | 2 | 67,099 | + 49.2% | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Hyundai Grandeur | 5,074 | – 31.7% | 6 | 53,678 | – 9.6% | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 4,861 | – 33.4% | 5 | 50,431 | – 20.4% | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | Hyundai Sonata | 4,603 | – 8.8% | 10 | 42,076 | – 4.4% | 11 | 8 |
| 6 | Kia Carnival | 4,515 | – 20.0% | 3 | 66,984 | – 1.5% | 3 | 2 |
| 7 | Kia Sportage | 4,055 | – 26.7% | 4 | 59,743 | – 3.0% | 4 | 4 |
| 8 | Hyundai Porter | 3,979 | – 31.2% | 7 | 47,726 | – 18.4% | 8 | 6 |
| 9 | Hyundai Tucson | 3,909 | – 38.6% | 8 | 43,594 | + 1.2% | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | Hyundai Palisade | 3,829 | + 152.4% | 11 | 50,167 | + 203.3% | 7 | 22 |
| 11 | Kia Ray | 3,382 | + 3.2% | 12 | 39,907 | – 0.3% | 12 | 11 |
| 12 | Kia Seltos | 3,365 | – 50.7% | 9 | 46,404 | – 9.9% | 9 | 7 |
| 13 | Kia K5 | 3,045 | + 0.5% | 16 | 29,709 | + 2.1% | 17 | 18 |
| 14 | Hyundai Kona | 2,951 | + 26.7% | 13 | 26,666 | + 12.0% | 20 | 20 |
| 15 | Genesis G80 | 2,940 | – 25.6% | 14 | 34,107 | – 12.2% | 14 | 12 |
| 16 | Renault Korea Grand Koleos | 2,934 | – 45.5% | 18 | 34,995 | + 275.1% | 13 | 21 |
| 17 | Genesis GV80 | 2,850 | + 40.5% | 21 | 26,703 | – 20.2% | 19 | 16 |
| 18 | Kia Bongo | 2,847 | – 10.6% | 15 | 30,714 | – 12.1% | 16 | 15 |
| 19 | Genesis GV70 | 2,512 | – 36.4% | 19 | 27,963 | – 2.6% | 18 | 17 |
| 20 | Hyundai Staria | 2,420 | – 35.4% | 17 | 32,414 | – 3.7% | 15 | 14 |
| 21 | Kia K8 | 2,129 | – 57.2% | 23 | 23,428 | – 10.0% | 21 | 19 |
| 22 | Hyundai Bus/Truck | 2,096 | + 28.9% | 20 | 17,222 | n/a | 23 | n/a |
| 23 | Kia Morning | 2,062 | + 40.8% | 26 | 13,372 | + 13.7% | 26 | 24 |
| 24 | Kia PV5 | 1,814 | new | 37 | 2,647 | new | 44 | – |
| 25 | Hyundai Casper | 1,482 | – 59.1% | 24 | 13,709 | – 62.3% | 24 | 13 |
| 26 | Kia EV3 | 1,423 | – 32.5% | 25 | 20,391 | + 101.8% | 22 | 28 |
| 27 | Kia EV5 | 1,150 | new | 47 | 1,422 | new | 52 | – |
| 28 | Kia Niro | 1,128 | + 17.4% | 32 | 10,907 | – 13.6% | 27 | 25 |
| 29 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,109 | + 4.2% | 22 | 13,419 | + 8.7% | 25 | 26 |
| 30 | Chevrolet Trax Crossover | 959 | – 36.7% | 33 | 10,340 | – 35.1% | 28 | 23 |
| 31 | KGM Torres | 957 | + 32.2% | 38 | 7,102 | – 41.2% | 34 | 27 |
| 32 | Kia EV6 | 747 | + 34.1% | 27 | 8,893 | + 9.4% | 29 | 31 |
| 33 | KGM Actyon | 701 | – 52.7% | 31 | 5,911 | + 49.7% | 37 | 37 |
| 34 | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 667 | new | 28 | 7,610 | new | 32 | – |
| 35 | Kia EV4 | 654 | new | 30 | 7,691 | new | 31 | – |
| 36 | Hyundai Nexo | 646 | + 251.1% | 29 | 4,814 | + 85.7% | 39 | 41 |
| 37 | Kia Tasman | 611 | new | 36 | 7,540 | new | 33 | – |
| 38 | KGM Musso EV | 581 | new | 35 | 6,892 | new | 35 | – |
| 39 | Hyundai Venue | 556 | + 26.7% | 34 | 8,620 | + 124.8% | 30 | 39 |
| 40 | KGM Tivoli | 506 | – 19.9% | 42 | 4,294 | – 26.3% | 40 | 35 |
| 41 | Genesis G90 | 492 | – 10.5% | 40 | 6,155 | – 7.3% | 36 | 33 |
| 42 | Renault Korea Arkana | 447 | + 29.2% | 41 | 4,227 | – 48.3% | 41 | 32 |
| 43 | Kia Bus/Special | 438 | + 253.2% | 45 | 1,999 | #DIV/0! | 47 | – |
| 44 | Renault Korea QM6 | 391 | – 32.8% | 43 | 3,879 | – 44.6% | 42 | 34 |
| 45 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 367 | – 57.6% | 39 | 4,824 | + 19.3% | 38 | 38 |
| 46 | KGM Musso Sports | 335 | new | 44 | 3,224 | new | 43 | – |
| 47 | KGM Musso Khan | 231 | new | 48 | 2,194 | new | 46 | – |
| 48 | Hyundai ST1 | 199 | + 126.1% | 46 | 1,460 | + 90.6% | 51 | 49 |
| 49 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | 181 | – 40.8% | 49 | 2,216 | – 39.2% | 45 | 40 |
| 50 | Kia EV9 | 144 | – 9.4% | 52 | 1,344 | – 23.6% | 53 | 45 |
| 51 | Genesis G70 | 127 | – 5.2% | 50 | 1,568 | – 21.1% | 49 | 42 |
| 52 | KGM Rexton New Arena | 125 | – 5.3% | 55 | 1,140 | – 33.0% | 55 | 46 |
| 53 | Genesis GV60 | 88 | + 109.5% | 56 | 703 | + 44.1% | 56 | 51 |
| 54 | KGM Torres EVX | 81 | – 76.7% | 51 | 1,773 | – 68.8% | 48 | 36 |
| 55 | Kia K9 | 47 | – 63.0% | 54 | 1,273 | – 31.9% | 54 | 44 |
| 56 | Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech | 22 | new | 57 | 120 | new | 60 | – |
| 57 | KGM Korando | 20 | – 75.6% | 58 | 413 | – 56.1% | 57 | 47 |
| 58 | Renault Korea SM6 | 16 | – 66.7% | 59 | 353 | – 44.4% | 58 | 50 |
| 59 | Chevrolet Colorado | 14 | – 48.1% | 60 | 89 | – 72.0% | 61 | 52 |
| 60 | Chevrolet Tahoe | 11 | – 21.4% | – | 43 | – 57.8% | 63 | 55 |
| 61 | Chevrolet Traverse | 4 | – 95.2% | 61 | 59 | – 93.3% | 62 | 48 |
| 62 | Chevrolet Equinox | 2 | n/a | – | 7 | – 41.7% | 66 | 58 |
| 63 | Chevrolet Bolt EUV | 1 | – 50.0% | – | 1 | – 95.0% | 67 | 57 |
South Korea October 2025 – foreign models:
| Pos | Model | Oct-25 | /24 | Sep | 2025 | /24 | Pos | FY24 |
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 3,712 | + 290.3% | 1 | 40,736 | + 178.6% | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Mercedes E Class | 2,489 | – 2.1% | 2 | 22,388 | + 11.2% | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | BMW 5 Series | 1,783 | – 14.0% | 3 | 19,989 | + 18.6% | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Mercedes GLE | 758 | + 121.0% | 7 | 5,315 | + 12.2% | 8 | 11 |
| 5 | Mercedes GLC | 752 | – 2.5% | 4 | 7,405 | + 8.7% | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | BMW 3 Series | 667 | + 45.6% | 13 | 5,240 | + 19.3% | 9 | 10 |
| 7 | Tesla Model 3 | 636 | + 110.6% | 6 | 7,064 | – 28.2% | 5 | 4 |
| 8 | Lexus ES | 614 | – 8.8% | 9 | 5,475 | – 6.6% | 7 | 6 |
| 9 | BMW X3 | 607 | + 124.0% | 12 | 5,501 | + 22.9% | 6 | 12 |
| 10 | BYD Sealion 7 | 513 | new | 5 | 1,341 | new | 38 | – |
| 11 | BMW X5 | 507 | + 29.0% | 10 | 5,106 | + 3.4% | 10 | 7 |
| 12 | Volvo XC60 | 468 | – 11.9% | 8 | 4,588 | – 8.3% | 11 | 8 |
| 13 | Mercedes S Class | 456 | – 21.6% | 14 | 3,969 | – 13.3% | 13 | 9 |
| 14 | BMW 7 Series | 386 | + 112.1% | 15 | 4,304 | + 33.3% | 12 | 15 |
| 15 | BMW X7 | 371 | + 6.3% | 18 | 3,820 | + 12.5% | 14 | 14 |
| 16 | Volvo XC40 | 363 | + 83.3% | 24 | 2,295 | + 9.6% | 25 | 28 |
| 17 | BMW X4 | 303 | – 9.8% | 22 | 3,055 | – 6.7% | 17 | 17 |
| 18 | Volvo S90 | 289 | + 149.1% | n/a | 1,290 | – 20.7% | 42 | 30 |
| 19 | Mini Cooper Hatch | 286 | – 19.4% | 17 | 3,035 | + 21.0% | 18 | 21 |
| 20 | Polestar 4 | 286 | + 1330.0% | 16 | 2,167 | n/a | 27 | n/a |
| 21 | BYD Atto 3 | 264 | new | 42 | 2,173 | new | 26 | – |
| 22 | Mercedes CLE | 262 | + 45.6% | 26 | 2,756 | + 12.0% | 21 | 25 |
| 23 | BMW X6 | 233 | – 31.1% | 21 | 3,009 | + 6.4% | 19 | 20 |
| 24 | BMW i5 | 233 | + 1194.4% | n/a | 1,299 | + 15.4% | 40 | n/a |
| 25 | Toyota RAV4 | 226 | – 8.9% | 32 | 1,772 | – 25.1% | 33 | 23 |
| 26 | Lexus NX | 219 | – 39.0% | 19 | 3,652 | + 15.8% | 15 | 16 |
| 27 | Mercedes GLS | 216 | + 62.4% | 30 | 1,343 | – 1.1% | 37 | 44 |
| 28 | BMW 4 Series | 202 | + 12.8% | 36 | 1,883 | + 37.0% | 31 | 38 |
| 29 | BMW X1 | 188 | + 37.2% | 29 | 2,122 | + 38.9% | 28 | 32 |
| 30 | Toyota Camry | 185 | + 72.9% | 31 | 1,909 | + 31.4% | 30 | 31 |
| 31 | Mercedes G Class | 184 | – 41.6% | 28 | 2,651 | + 71.0% | 22 | 26 |
| 32 | Lexus RX | 176 | + 93.4% | 25 | 1,985 | + 38.4% | 29 | 36 |
| 33 | Mercedes C Class | 175 | – 12.1% | 39 | 2,415 | – 30.9% | 23 | 18 |
| 34 | Porsche Taycan | 171 | + 39.0% | 44 | 1,608 | + 117.3% | 34 | 47 |
| 35 | Porsche Cayenne | 163 | – 53.4% | 23 | 3,201 | + 3.2% | 16 | 19 |
| 36 | Volvo XC90 | 159 | + 40.7% | 34 | 1,440 | + 6.4% | 36 | 42 |
| 37 | Toyota Alphard | 156 | + 69.6% | 38 | 1,291 | + 126.5% | 41 | n/a |
| 38 | Audi Q5 | 154 | – 38.9% | 47 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 39 | Ford Explorer | 138 | + 2200.0% | 27 | 2,385 | + 87.1% | 24 | 40 |
| 40 | Mini Electric | 138 | new | 41 | 699 | new | n/a | n/a |
| 41 | Audi A5 | 131 | new | 50 | n/a | new | n/a | n/a |
| 42 | Mini Countryman | 125 | – 26.5% | 43 | 1,336 | – 42.6% | 39 | 24 |
| 43 | VW Atlas | 110 | new | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 44 | Porsche Macan EV | 106 | new | 37 | 1,249 | new | 43 | n/a |
| 45 | Lexus UX | 100 | – 16.0% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 46 | Porsche Panamera | 91 | – 16.5% | 45 | 1,808 | + 63.0% | 32 | 43 |
| 47 | Jeep Wrangler | 84 | – 38.7% | n/a | 790 | – 22.1% | 49 | 46 |
| 48 | Audi A3 | 83 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 49 | Toyota Sienna | 82 | + 0.0% | n/a | 720 | + 33.3% | 50 | 60 |
| 50 | BMW i4 | 82 | – 51.2% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 49 |
Source: KAIDA, Manufacturers
