South Korea June 2026: BYD smashes records
The BYD Dolphin is the 2nd best-selling foreign model in South Korea in June.
The South Korean new light vehicle market is up by a robust 9.5% year-on-year in June to 159,348 units. This is divided into 121,289 units (+3%) for local carmakers and 38,059 (+37%) for foreigners. The H1 2026 tally is up 2.5% to 845,356, including 661,343 domestic brands (-3.7%) and 184,013 foreigners (+33.2%). Kia (+18.7%) has now been the #1 brand at home for 6 straight months, having established its dominance over sister brand Hyundai (-2.5%) in difficulty again. Kia is almost 27,000 units ahead of Hyundai YTD, which should ensure a Full Year victory. In third place for the 5th straight month, Tesla continues to shine with sales up 74.4% to 7% share and above the 10,000 unit-mark for the 4th month in a row. BYD (+2014.5%) smashes its records to #7 with 4,652 sales and 2.9% share (Previous best was reached last April at #9 with 2,023 sales and 1.3% share).
In the local models ranking, the Hyundai Grandeur (+80.4%) soars to pole position for the first time this year, dislodging the Kia Sorento (+8.1%) which remains the faraway YTD leader. The Kia Seltos (+31.1%) is up seven spots on May to #3, the nameplate’s first podium finish after 84 months in market. Its previous best was #4 hit in September 2019 and October 2024. The Carnival (-6.7%) and Sportage (-2.9%) ensure there are four Kia models in the Top 5. The Kia EV5 is the most popular recent launch and repeats at a record #13. The Tesla Model Y (+49.1%) once again obliterates the foreign models charts with over 9,000 sales. The event of the month is the arrival at #2 of the BYD Dolphin (+35 spots on last month), with the BMW 5 Series (+0.5%), Mercedes E Class (-18.5%) and GLC (-20.8%) rounding out the Top 5. BYD also places the Sealion 7 at #6 and the Atto 3 at #14.
Previous month: South Korea May 2026: Tesla Model Y first foreign model to top charts outright
One year ago: South Korea June 2025: Kia Sorento and Hyundai Avante on top
Full June 2026 Top 30 All brands, Top 52 All local models and Top 50 foreign models below.
South Korea June 2026 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Jun-26 | % | /25 | May | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Kia | 54,981 | 34.5% | + 18.7% | 1 | 296,479 | 35.1% | + 7.0% | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Hyundai | 50,296 | 31.6% | – 2.5% | 2 | 269,689 | 31.9% | – 8.2% | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Tesla | 11,119 | 7.0% | + 74.4% | 3 | 56,139 | 6.6% | + 192.2% | 3 | 6 |
| 4 | Genesis | 7,936 | 5.0% | – 24.1% | 5 | 47,024 | 5.6% | – 23.1% | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | BMW | 6,569 | 4.1% | + 0.2% | 4 | 39,150 | 4.6% | + 2.3% | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Mercedes | 5,565 | 3.5% | – 7.8% | 6 | 29,776 | 3.5% | – 8.6% | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | BYD | 4,652 | 2.9% | + 2014.5% | 12 | 11,675 | 1.4% | + 807.9% | 9 | 16 |
| 8 | KGM | 3,637 | 2.3% | + 19.6% | 7 | 21,807 | 2.6% | + 19.0% | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | Renault Korea | 3,400 | 2.1% | – 32.2% | 8 | 21,187 | 2.5% | – 24.5% | 8 | 7 |
| 10 | Audi | 1,772 | 1.1% | + 70.1% | 9 | 7,337 | 0.9% | + 49.4% | 12 | 12 |
| 11 | Lexus | 1,694 | 1.1% | + 37.7% | 10 | 7,819 | 0.9% | + 3.0% | 10 | 10 |
| 12 | Volvo | 1,679 | 1.1% | + 57.4% | 11 | 7,470 | 0.9% | + 10.4% | 11 | 9 |
| 13 | Toyota | 1,401 | 0.9% | + 73.2% | 14 | 5,187 | 0.6% | + 15.3% | 13 | 14 |
| 14 | GM Korea | 1,039 | 0.7% | – 17.8% | 15 | 5,157 | 0.6% | – 35.7% | 14 | 11 |
| 15 | Mini | 836 | 0.5% | + 7.9% | 16 | 4,091 | 0.5% | + 19.7% | 16 | 15 |
| 16 | Porsche | 716 | 0.4% | – 32.2% | 13 | 4,322 | 0.5% | – 25.0% | 15 | 13 |
| 17 | Volkswagen | 602 | 0.4% | – 16.0% | 17 | 2,804 | 0.3% | + 4.5% | 17 | 18 |
| 18 | Polestar | 433 | 0.3% | + 65.9% | 19 | 2,412 | 0.3% | + 74.0% | 19 | 20 |
| 19 | Land Rover | 426 | 0.3% | – 15.6% | 18 | 2,460 | 0.3% | – 1.8% | 18 | 17 |
| 20 | Ford | 74 | 0.0% | – 78.1% | 27 | 335 | 0.0% | – 87.3% | 23 | 19 |
| 21 | Jeep | 72 | 0.0% | – 71.4% | 24 | 547 | 0.1% | – 41.1% | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | GMC | 67 | 0.0% | + 458.3% | 23 | 477 | 0.1% | + 300.8% | 21 | 30 |
| 23 | Peugeot | 65 | 0.0% | – 31.6% | 26 | 328 | 0.0% | – 26.9% | 24 | 24 |
| 24 | Lamborghini | 64 | 0.0% | + 28.0% | 22 | 215 | 0.0% | + 3.4% | 28 | 26 |
| 25 | Lincoln | 59 | 0.0% | – 37.2% | 20 | 322 | 0.0% | – 54.2% | 25 | 23 |
| 26 | Bentley | 58 | 0.0% | + 141.7% | 28 | 227 | 0.0% | + 95.7% | 27 | 27 |
| 27 | Cadillac | 52 | 0.0% | – 18.8% | 25 | 318 | 0.0% | – 2.8% | 26 | 25 |
| 28 | Honda | 47 | 0.0% | – 66.9% | 21 | 399 | 0.0% | – 65.4% | 22 | 22 |
| 29 | Ferrari | 20 | 0.0% | – 23.1% | 29 | 115 | 0.0% | – 37.5% | 29 | 28 |
| 30 | Rolls-Royce | 15 | 0.0% | + 15.4% | 30 | 86 | 0.0% | – 13.1% | 30 | 31 |
| – | Total local manufacturers | 121,289 | 76.1% | + 3.0% | – | 661,343 | 78.2% | – 3.7% | – | – |
| – | Total foreign manufacturers | 38,059 | 23.9% | + 37.0% | – | 184,013 | 21.8% | + 33.2% | – | – |
| – | Total market | 159,348 | 100.0% | + 9.5% | – | 845,356 | 100.0% | + 2.5% | – | – |
South Korea June 2026 – local models:
| Pos | Model | Jun-26 | /25 | May | 2026 | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Hyundai Grandeur | 10,062 | + 80.4% | 2 | 38,390 | + 14.1% | 2 | 5 |
| 2 | Kia Sorento | 8,561 | + 8.1% | 1 | 55,426 | + 8.4% | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Kia Seltos | 6,685 | + 31.1% | 9 | 23,545 | – 18.6% | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | Kia Carnival | 6,267 | – 6.7% | 4 | 30,202 | – 28.9% | 5 | 3 |
| 5 | Kia Sportage | 6,176 | – 2.9% | 3 | 31,263 | – 17.9% | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | Hyundai Sonata | 5,102 | + 21.0% | 6 | 30,339 | + 17.4% | 4 | 11 |
| 7 | Hyundai Avante | 4,316 | – 42.3% | 5 | 28,668 | – 27.6% | 6 | 2 |
| 8 | Hyundai Palisade | 4,211 | – 23.0% | 23 | 19,667 | – 36.1% | 12 | 6 |
| 9 | Kia Ray | 4,159 | – 2.4% | 7 | 24,380 | – 3.5% | 8 | 12 |
| 10 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 4,068 | – 25.3% | 11 | 20,511 | – 36.4% | 10 | 7 |
| 11 | Hyundai Porter | 3,828 | – 12.0% | 8 | 25,955 | – 8.5% | 7 | 8 |
| 12 | Hyundai Tucson | 3,285 | – 26.2% | 20 | 20,482 | – 23.2% | 11 | 10 |
| 13 | Kia EV5 | 3,192 | new | 13 | 15,965 | new | 17 | 49 |
| 14 | Kia K5 | 3,150 | + 9.6% | 16 | 15,747 | – 9.7% | 18 | 16 |
| 15 | Hyundai Kona | 3,077 | + 16.7% | 21 | 17,874 | + 23.1% | 14 | 19 |
| 16 | Hyundai Staria | 3,035 | – 20.1% | 22 | 14,892 | – 25.6% | 20 | 15 |
| 17 | Genesis G80 | 2,944 | – 16.9% | 18 | 16,928 | – 23.8% | 15 | 13 |
| 18 | Kia EV3 | 2,838 | + 50.6% | 10 | 18,431 | + 47.2% | 13 | 22 |
| 19 | Kia Bongo | 2,531 | – 12.7% | 12 | 16,415 | – 8.6% | 16 | 17 |
| 20 | Genesis GV70 | 2,428 | – 19.1% | 24 | 14,067 | – 17.9% | 21 | 18 |
| 21 | Hyundai Bus/Truck | 2,375 | + 54.4% | 19 | 10,532 | + 31.9% | 26 | 23 |
| 22 | Kia PV5 | 2,349 | new | 15 | 15,000 | new | 19 | 45 |
| 23 | Kia K8 | 1,981 | – 18.2% | 25 | 10,965 | – 27.3% | 25 | 21 |
| 24 | Kia Morning | 1,919 | + 59.4% | 17 | 11,995 | + 82.1% | 22 | 25 |
| 25 | Kia Niro | 1,880 | + 86.7% | 29 | 8,461 | + 27.5% | 29 | 27 |
| 26 | Genesis GV80 | 1,840 | – 37.7% | 26 | 11,693 | – 29.1% | 24 | 20 |
| 27 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,694 | + 13.8% | 14 | 11,894 | + 73.2% | 23 | 26 |
| 28 | Hyundai Casper | 1,485 | + 23.2% | 27 | 8,266 | + 8.9% | 30 | 24 |
| 29 | KGM Musso | 1,333 | + 209.3% | 33 | 7,975 | + 373.6% | 31 | 44 |
| 30 | Renault Korea Filante | 1,324 | new | 31 | 9,624 | new | 27 | – |
| 31 | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 1,318 | + 71.8% | 28 | 7,239 | + 100.6% | 33 | 33 |
| 32 | Renault Korea Grand Koleos | 1,313 | – 68.0% | 30 | 8,519 | – 63.1% | 28 | 14 |
| 33 | Hyundai Venue | 1,123 | + 3.4% | 36 | 5,578 | + 12.1% | 34 | 28 |
| 34 | Kia EV4 | 1,019 | – 5.0% | 32 | 7,726 | + 135.8% | 32 | 34 |
| 35 | Chevrolet Trax Crossover | 842 | – 16.1% | 39 | 4,206 | – 34.0% | 38 | 29 |
| 36 | Kia EV6 | 820 | + 12.8% | 35 | 5,297 | + 10.2% | 35 | 30 |
| 37 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 773 | + 14.7% | 34 | 4,975 | + 68.4% | 36 | 42 |
| 38 | Renault Korea Arkana | 763 | + 56.7% | 42 | 2,686 | + 17.4% | 43 | 40 |
| 39 | KGM Torres | 624 | – 4.6% | 47 | 2,381 | – 48.1% | 44 | 31 |
| 40 | Kia Bus/Special | 603 | + 424.3% | 37 | 2,019 | + 184.8% | 45 | 46 |
| 41 | KGM Musso EV | 578 | + 2.7% | 38 | 4,296 | + 44.4% | 37 | 37 |
| 42 | KGM Actyon | 528 | + 99.2% | 41 | 3,335 | + 78.9% | 39 | 35 |
| 43 | Hyundai Nexo | 459 | + 818.0% | 44 | 2,815 | + 288.3% | 40 | 39 |
| 44 | Kia EV9 | 392 | + 246.9% | 45 | 1,552 | + 102.1% | 47 | 53 |
| 45 | KGM Tivoli | 372 | – 1.8% | 40 | 2,694 | + 13.6% | 42 | 41 |
| 46 | Genesis G90 | 361 | – 46.0% | 43 | 2,808 | – 28.6% | 41 | 36 |
| 47 | Kia Tasman | 320 | – 75.4% | 46 | 1,976 | – 50.5% | 46 | 32 |
| 48 | Genesis G70 | 228 | + 10.7% | 55 | 785 | – 21.3% | 49 | 50 |
| 49 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | 174 | – 28.7% | 48 | 909 | – 38.2% | 48 | 48 |
| 50 | Kia K9 | 139 | + 51.1% | 49 | 734 | – 14.8% | 50 | 54 |
| 51 | Genesis GV60 | 135 | + 68.8% | 51 | 586 | + 61.9% | 52 | 58 |
| 52 | Hyundai ST1 | 85 | + 10.4% | 50 | 717 | + 15.1% | 51 | 55 |
South Korea June 2026 – foreign models:
| Pos | Model | Jun-26 | /25 | May | 2026 | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 9,188 | + 49.1% | 1 | 43,359 | + 181.2% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | BYD Dolphin | 2,828 | new | 37 | 4,505 | new | 6 | – |
| 3 | BMW 5 Series | 2,266 | + 0.5% | 2 | 11,837 | – 1.0% | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Mercedes E Class | 2,114 | – 18.5% | 4 | 11,929 | – 12.0% | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | Mercedes GLC | 1,221 | + 20.8% | 9 | 4,691 | + 10.1% | 5 | 4 |
| 6 | BYD Sealion 7 | 1,117 | new | 6 | 4,477 | new | 7 | 25 |
| 7 | Tesla Model X | 1,027 | + 51250.0% | 12 | 2,646 | + 26360.0% | 15 | n/a |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | 674 | + 171.8% | n/a | 993 | + 0.1% | 37 | 30 |
| 9 | Mercedes GLE | 634 | + 4.8% | 13 | 3,680 | + 20.2% | 9 | 6 |
| 10 | Volvo EX30 | 624 | + 494.3% | 21 | 1,309 | + 43.5% | 29 | 47 |
| 11 | BMW X3 | 619 | + 13.8% | 5 | 4,027 | + 23.3% | 8 | 8 |
| 12 | Lexus ES | 545 | + 16.7% | 8 | 2,672 | – 18.8% | 14 | 7 |
| 13 | Lexus NX | 530 | + 34.5% | 14 | 2,793 | + 20.2% | 12 | 18 |
| 14 | BYD Atto 3 | 503 | + 135.0% | n/a | 1,781 | + 39.1% | 23 | 22 |
| 15 | BMW X5 | 495 | + 34.1% | 10 | 3,437 | + 13.6% | 10 | 10 |
| 16 | Audi A6 | 455 | n/a | 7 | 1,136 | + 18.3% | 33 | 50 |
| 17 | BMW 3 Series | 448 | – 22.0% | 11 | 3,218 | + 13.9% | 11 | 9 |
| 18 | Audi Q4 e-Tron | 438 | + 26.2% | 16 | 1,785 | + 18.1% | 22 | 23 |
| 19 | Polestar 4 | 433 | + 266.9% | 18 | 2,410 | + 125.2% | 17 | 26 |
| 20 | Audi Q5 | 427 | + 4170.0% | 20 | 1,791 | + 17810.0% | 21 | n/a |
| 21 | BMW 7 Series | 427 | + 6.8% | 15 | 2,675 | + 5.0% | 13 | 13 |
| 22 | Tesla Model 3 | 414 | + 97.1% | 3 | 8,861 | + 144.0% | 4 | 5 |
| 23 | Tesla Model S | 394 | + 13033.3% | 35 | 1,005 | + 4468.2% | 36 | n/a |
| 24 | Mini Cooper Hatch | 389 | + 16.1% | 25 | 1,993 | + 16.9% | 19 | 15 |
| 25 | Volvo XC60 | 366 | – 1.9% | 19 | 2,446 | – 5.6% | 16 | 11 |
| 26 | Mercedes G Class | 327 | + 34.0% | 22 | 1,344 | – 26.0% | 27 | 21 |
| 27 | Volvo EX30 CC | 322 | new | n/a | 346 | new | n/a | – |
| 28 | BMW X7 | 305 | – 17.3% | 17 | 2,241 | – 7.4% | 18 | 14 |
| 29 | BMW i5 | 300 | + 78.6% | 26 | 1,681 | + 103.0% | 24 | 36 |
| 30 | Mercedes S Class | 292 | – 19.1% | 29 | 1,839 | – 14.1% | 20 | 12 |
| 31 | Lexus RX | 288 | + 32.7% | 30 | 1,314 | + 29.5% | 28 | 33 |
| 32 | VW ID.4 | 249 | + 12.2% | 28 | 1,251 | + 9.6% | 30 | 43 |
| 33 | Mercedes CLE | 242 | – 22.2% | 27 | 1,598 | – 11.4% | 26 | 20 |
| 34 | BMW X6 | 221 | – 23.8% | 24 | 1,604 | – 17.8% | 25 | 19 |
| 35 | Toyota Camry | 214 | + 20.2% | 33 | 1,227 | + 3.1% | 31 | 31 |
| 36 | Mercedes C Class | 206 | – 44.8% | n/a | 441 | – 74.2% | n/a | 27 |
| 37 | BYD Seal | 204 | + 3300.0% | 44 | 906 | + 15000.0% | 41 | n/a |
| 38 | VW Golf | 198 | + 34.7% | 39 | 826 | + 161.4% | 43 | n/a |
| 39 | Porsche Taycan | 196 | + 43.1% | 47 | 1,195 | + 33.2% | 32 | 35 |
| 40 | Toyota Alphard | 186 | + 60.3% | 32 | 911 | + 34.6% | 39 | 42 |
| 41 | BMW X1 | 176 | – 16.6% | 34 | 1,079 | – 15.3% | 34 | 28 |
| 42 | Lexus UX | 165 | + 126.0% | n/a | 216 | – 6.9% | n/a | n/a |
| 43 | Porsche Cayenne | 158 | – 57.8% | 23 | 1,066 | – 53.0% | 35 | 17 |
| 44 | Mini Countryman | 157 | + 31.9% | 49 | 157 | – 81.7% | n/a | 40 |
| 45 | BMW 4 Series | 154 | – 28.0% | 43 | 878 | – 18.8% | 42 | 32 |
| 46 | Mercedes GLS | 145 | + 52.6% | 46 | 459 | – 40.2% | n/a | 37 |
| 47 | Range Rover Sport | 138 | – 11.5% | n/a | 614 | – 7.4% | 47 | 45 |
| 48 | Porsche Panamera | 137 | + 9.6% | n/a | 689 | – 44.7% | 45 | 34 |
| 49 | Mini Electric | 134 | – 22.1% | n/a | 540 | + 191.9% | n/a | n/a |
| 50 | Porsche Macan EV | 123 | – 34.2% | 31 | 123 | – 80.5% | n/a | 41 |
Source: KAIDA
