South Korea August 2026: Tesla Model Y distant leader above Kia Sorento, market off -20.8%
The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling vehicle in South Korea for the 2nd straight month.
New light vehicle sales in South Korea sink -20.8% year-on-year in August to 109,556 units. This despite foreign manufacturers up 9.2% to 29,817 whereas local carmakers drop -28.2% to 79,739. The year-to-date tally tilts into negative at -0.6% to 1,093,807 including 849,001 locals (-6.6%) and 244,806 foreigners (+27.3%). Kia (-7.6%) widens the gap with sister brand Hyundai (-39.2%) to a record 10,577 sales. Tesla (+30.4%) remains in third place with a record 9.5% share, eclipsing the previous best of 8.7% reached last April. BMW (-4.3%) follows ahead of Genesis (-51.2%) literally in hell. Below Mercedes (-6.8%), BYD surges 713.6% to threepeat at a record 7th place.
In the local cars ranking, the Kia Sorento (-2.1%) is up three spots on July to reclaim the pole position it holds year-to-date, toppling the Hyundai Grandeur (+15.4%). The Hyundai Porter (-23.9%) rallies back up five ranks to land on the third step of the podium for the first time since last March. The Kia Carnival (-30.6%) and Sportage (-32.7%) close out the Top 5 in paltry fashion. Meanwhile the Kia EV3 (+37%), Hyundai Santa Fe (+8.9%) and Kia Ray (+6.7%) defy the surrounding gloom with solid YoY gains. The new Kia EV5 breaks into its home Top 10 for the first time at #10.
The Tesla Model Y (+44.2%) goes from strength to strength, accounting for one in every three foreign cars sold in South Korea this month. Even better: it ranks #1 overall even including domestic models, as it has already done last month and last May. Its gap wit the #2, the Kia Sorento, is up to 3,241 sales or 51%… The BMW 5 Series (-4.6%) and Mercedes E Class (-16.2%) follow as usual, while the new BYD Dolphin and Sealion 7 (+27200%) both grain one spot on last month, overtaking the Tesla Model 3 (-46.3%). The BYD Sealion 6 posts its maiden Top 50 finish, landing directly at #9.
Previous month: South Korea July 2026: Tesla Model Y outsells Hyundai Grandeur to #1, Kia Seltos up to record #2
One year ago: South Korea August 2025: Hyundai Avante and Tesla Model Y on top, Kia PV5 lands
Full August 2026 Top 30 All brands, Top 55 All domestic models and Top 50 foreigners below.
South Korea August 2026 – brands:
| Pos | Brand | Aug-26 | % | /25 | Jul | 2026 | % | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Kia | 40,365 | 36.8% | – 7.6% | 1 | 391,579 | 35.8% | + 7.0% | 1 | 2 |
| 2 | Hyundai | 29,788 | 27.2% | – 39.2% | 2 | 342,160 | 31.3% | – 12.4% | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Tesla | 10,400 | 9.5% | + 30.4% | 3 | 76,776 | 7.0% | + 122.3% | 3 | 6 |
| 4 | BMW | 6,180 | 5.6% | – 4.3% | 4 | 51,863 | 4.7% | + 1.2% | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Genesis | 4,545 | 4.1% | – 51.2% | 5 | 56,999 | 5.2% | – 27.5% | 4 | 3 |
| 6 | Mercedes | 4,037 | 3.7% | – 6.8% | 6 | 37,772 | 3.5% | – 8.7% | 6 | 5 |
| 7 | BYD | 3,002 | 2.7% | + 713.6% | 7 | 17,523 | 1.6% | + 800.0% | 9 | 16 |
| 8 | KGM | 2,300 | 2.1% | – 43.3% | 8 | 26,717 | 2.4% | – 0.5% | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | Renault Korea | 2,024 | 1.8% | – 47.7% | 9 | 24,915 | 2.3% | – 30.7% | 8 | 7 |
| 10 | Toyota | 1,015 | 0.9% | + 14.9% | 11 | 7,542 | 0.7% | + 22.4% | 13 | 14 |
| 11 | Lexus | 840 | 0.8% | – 32.7% | 10 | 10,133 | 0.9% | – 0.8% | 10 | 10 |
| 12 | Audi | 810 | 0.7% | – 35.9% | 13 | 9,082 | 0.8% | + 22.2% | 12 | 12 |
| 13 | Volvo | 770 | 0.7% | – 41.4% | 12 | 9,198 | 0.8% | + 1.1% | 11 | 9 |
| 14 | Porsche | 739 | 0.7% | – 3.4% | 15 | 5,696 | 0.5% | – 24.5% | 15 | 13 |
| 15 | Chevrolet | 717 | 0.7% | – 39.3% | 14 | 6,631 | 0.6% | – 36.3% | 14 | 11 |
| 16 | Mini | 702 | 0.6% | + 5.6% | 16 | 5,425 | 0.5% | + 12.9% | 16 | 15 |
| 17 | Volkswagen | 315 | 0.3% | – 23.2% | 17 | 3,590 | 0.3% | – 2.8% | 17 | 18 |
| 18 | Polestar | 290 | 0.3% | + 12.8% | 19 | 2,950 | 0.3% | + 58.1% | 19 | 20 |
| 19 | Land Rover | 271 | 0.2% | – 39.2% | 18 | 3,039 | 0.3% | – 9.1% | 18 | 17 |
| 20 | Jeep | 134 | 0.1% | + 10.7% | 20 | 754 | 0.1% | – 40.6% | 20 | 21 |
| 21 | Lamborghini | 68 | 0.1% | + 183.3% | 21 | 344 | 0.0% | + 19.9% | 27 | 26 |
| 22 | GMC | 52 | 0.0% | + 116.7% | 23 | 570 | 0.1% | + 241.3% | 21 | 30 |
| 23 | Peugeot | 40 | 0.0% | – 44.4% | 26 | 403 | 0.0% | – 32.7% | 23 | 24 |
| 24 | Bentley | 34 | 0.0% | + 47.8% | 25 | 297 | 0.0% | + 80.0% | 28 | 27 |
| 25 | Honda | 33 | 0.0% | – 70.3% | 30 | 443 | 0.0% | – 68.5% | 22 | 22 |
| 26 | Cadillac | 25 | 0.0% | – 56.1% | 22 | 385 | 0.0% | – 13.7% | 24 | 25 |
| 27 | Ferrari | 25 | 0.0% | – 13.8% | 28 | 158 | 0.0% | – 33.6% | 29 | 28 |
| 28 | Ford | 17 | 0.0% | – 95.2% | 27 | 384 | 0.0% | – 88.3% | 25 | 19 |
| 29 | Rolls-Royce | 16 | 0.0% | + 0.0% | 29 | 114 | 0.0% | – 12.3% | 30 | 31 |
| 30 | Lincoln | 2 | 0.0% | – 96.6% | 24 | 363 | 0.0% | – 58.9% | 26 | 23 |
| – | Total local manufacturers | 79,739 | 72.8% | – 28.2% | – | 849,001 | 77.6% | – 6.6% | – | – |
| – | Total foreign manufacturers | 29,817 | 27.2% | + 9.2% | – | 244,806 | 22.4% | + 27.3% | – | – |
| – | Total market | 109,556 | 100.0% | – 20.8% | – | 1,093,807 | 100.0% | – 0.6% | – | – |
South Korea August 2026 – local models:
| Pos | Model | Aug-26 | /25 | Jul | 2026 | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Kia Sorento | 6,397 | – 2.1% | 4 | 67,976 | + 5.0% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Hyundai Grandeur | 5,931 | + 15.4% | 1 | 52,853 | + 22.3% | 2 | 5 |
| 3 | Hyundai Porter | 4,224 | – 23.9% | 8 | 34,459 | – 10.3% | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | Kia Carnival | 4,186 | – 30.6% | 3 | 41,305 | – 25.9% | 3 | 3 |
| 5 | Kia Sportage | 3,874 | – 32.7% | 5 | 40,518 | – 17.8% | 4 | 4 |
| 6 | Kia Ray | 3,718 | + 6.7% | 6 | 33,276 | + 2.3% | 8 | 12 |
| 7 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 3,596 | + 8.9% | 9 | 27,929 | – 29.8% | 10 | 7 |
| 8 | Kia Seltos | 3,307 | – 22.0% | 2 | 34,279 | – 10.0% | 7 | 9 |
| 9 | Kia EV3 | 3,174 | + 37.0% | 10 | 25,072 | + 47.1% | 11 | 22 |
| 10 | Kia EV5 | 3,146 | new | 11 | 22,545 | new | 13 | 49 |
| 11 | Hyundai Sonata | 3,105 | – 12.0% | 7 | 38,028 | + 16.3% | 5 | 11 |
| 12 | Kia Bongo | 2,385 | – 24.7% | 14 | 21,646 | – 12.1% | 16 | 17 |
| 13 | Hyundai Staria | 2,184 | – 32.7% | 13 | 19,980 | – 25.7% | 19 | 15 |
| 14 | Kia K8 | 1,938 | – 1.9% | 28 | 14,162 | – 26.0% | 26 | 21 |
| 15 | Kia K5 | 1,920 | – 40.7% | 19 | 20,029 | – 14.9% | 18 | 16 |
| 16 | Hyundai Palisade | 1,812 | – 65.4% | 16 | 24,103 | – 43.0% | 12 | 6 |
| 17 | Kia PV5 | 1,744 | + 983.2% | 18 | 19,216 | + 11835.4% | 20 | 45 |
| 18 | Hyundai Bus/Truck | 1,553 | – 29.5% | 20 | 14,389 | + 16.1% | 24 | 23 |
| 19 | Hyundai Avante | 1,462 | – 80.9% | 17 | 32,675 | – 38.8% | 9 | 2 |
| 20 | Genesis G80 | 1,460 | – 48.3% | 21 | 20,321 | – 26.9% | 17 | 13 |
| 21 | Kia Morning | 1,410 | – 32.2% | 12 | 16,813 | + 76.9% | 22 | 25 |
| 22 | Genesis GV70 | 1,406 | – 52.9% | 23 | 17,173 | – 24.2% | 21 | 18 |
| 23 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,372 | – 17.4% | 22 | 15,099 | + 50.4% | 23 | 26 |
| 24 | Genesis GV80 | 1,240 | – 52.9% | 25 | 14,250 | – 33.1% | 25 | 20 |
| 25 | Kia Niro | 1,039 | – 2.2% | 27 | 10,807 | + 23.8% | 27 | 27 |
| 26 | Hyundai Kona | 1,034 | – 65.7% | 15 | 21,664 | + 7.6% | 15 | 19 |
| 27 | Hyundai Casper | 1,017 | – 18.4% | 26 | 10,590 | + 5.0% | 29 | 24 |
| 28 | Renault Korea Grand Koleos | 929 | – 68.0% | 34 | 10,176 | – 65.0% | 30 | 14 |
| 29 | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 770 | – 16.8% | 29 | 9,224 | + 62.7% | 32 | 33 |
| 30 | Kia EV4 | 743 | – 33.9% | 33 | 9,318 | + 58.3% | 31 | 34 |
| 31 | Chevrolet Trax Crossover | 629 | – 36.7% | 38 | 5,419 | – 35.2% | 37 | 29 |
| 32 | KGM Tivoli | 579 | + 23.5% | 40 | 3,753 | + 14.2% | 41 | 41 |
| 33 | Renault Korea Arkana | 575 | + 27.5% | 43 | 3,700 | + 13.8% | 42 | 40 |
| 34 | KGM Musso | 566 | + 27.2% | 36 | 9,153 | + 265.8% | 33 | 44 |
| 35 | Hyundai Tucson | 526 | – 86.4% | 24 | 22,384 | – 35.2% | 14 | 10 |
| 36 | Renault Korea Filante | 520 | new | 39 | 10,681 | new | 28 | – |
| 37 | KGM Torres | 460 | + 20.4% | 44 | 3,234 | – 41.0% | 44 | 31 |
| 38 | KGM Actyon | 444 | – 57.3% | 45 | 4,162 | + 0.2% | 39 | 35 |
| 39 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 424 | + 84.3% | 37 | 5,990 | + 57.6% | 36 | 42 |
| 40 | Kia EV6 | 420 | – 61.1% | 30 | 6,787 | – 0.5% | 35 | 30 |
| 41 | Hyundai Venue | 407 | – 49.9% | 32 | 6,938 | – 1.8% | 34 | 28 |
| 42 | Kia Tasman | 378 | – 57.4% | 42 | 2,796 | – 54.6% | 45 | 32 |
| 43 | Kia EV9 | 312 | + 178.6% | 41 | 2,306 | + 119.0% | 47 | 53 |
| 44 | Hyundai Nexo | 276 | – 77.1% | 31 | 4,051 | + 38.3% | 40 | 39 |
| 45 | Genesis G90 | 270 | – 53.2% | 46 | 3,357 | – 34.0% | 43 | 36 |
| 46 | Kia Bus/Special | 245 | – 14.9% | 47 | 2,528 | + 106.5% | 46 | 46 |
| 47 | KGM Musso EV | 130 | – 87.5% | 35 | 5,041 | – 5.8% | 38 | 37 |
| 48 | Hyundai ST1 | 95 | – 52.7% | 51 | 909 | – 4.4% | 50 | 55 |
| 49 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | 88 | – 52.4% | 48 | 1,170 | – 36.6% | 48 | 48 |
| 50 | KGM Torres EVX | 87 | – 65.6% | 50 | 735 | – 52.0% | 53 | 52 |
| 51 | Genesis G70 | 83 | – 58.3% | 52 | 939 | – 25.9% | 49 | 50 |
| 52 | Genesis GV60 | 73 | – 19.8% | 49 | 764 | + 43.1% | 52 | 58 |
| 53 | KGM Rexton New Arena | 34 | – 79.8% | 54 | 637 | – 30.2% | 54 | 57 |
| 54 | Kia K9 | 29 | – 79.7% | 53 | 820 | – 26.6% | 51 | 54 |
| 55 | Genesis GV60 Magma | 13 | new | 55 | 79 | new | 56 | – |
South Korea August 2026 – foreign models:
| Pos | Model | Aug-26 | /25 | Jul | 2026 | /25 | Pos | FY25 |
| 1 | Tesla Model Y | 9,638 | + 44.2% | 1 | 61,702 | + 115.3% | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | BMW 5 Series | 1,902 | – 4.6% | 2 | 15,658 | – 2.2% | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Mercedes E Class | 1,418 | – 16.2% | 4 | 14,772 | – 11.2% | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | BYD Dolphin | 1,202 | new | 5 | 6,977 | new | 5 | – |
| 5 | BYD Sealion 7 | 819 | + 27200.0% | 6 | 6,356 | n/a | 6 | 25 |
| 6 | Tesla Model 3 | 693 | – 46.3% | 3 | 11,085 | + 93.8% | 4 | 5 |
| 7 | BMW X3 | 638 | + 26.3% | 8 | 5,294 | + 22.6% | 8 | 8 |
| 8 | Mercedes GLC | 591 | – 9.5% | 7 | 5,940 | + 3.3% | 7 | 4 |
| 9 | BYD Sealion 6 | 500 | new | n/a | 557 | new | n/a | – |
| 10 | BMW X5 | 485 | – 12.3% | 10 | 4,508 | + 12.9% | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | BMW 3 Series | 468 | – 10.9% | 13 | 4,143 | + 3.1% | 11 | 9 |
| 12 | Mercedes S Class | 464 | + 31.8% | 40 | 2,445 | – 19.1% | 20 | 12 |
| 13 | Mercedes GLE | 445 | + 0.7% | 11 | 4,633 | + 19.9% | 9 | 6 |
| 14 | BMW 7 Series | 414 | – 21.0% | 15 | 3,532 | + 0.2% | 13 | 13 |
| 15 | Toyota RAV4 | 397 | + 140.6% | 9 | 1,990 | + 44.2% | 26 | 30 |
| 16 | Lexus NX | 361 | + 10.7% | 12 | 3,655 | + 17.6% | 12 | 18 |
| 17 | BYD Atto 3 | 327 | + 42.2% | 18 | 2,441 | + 38.4% | 21 | 22 |
| 18 | Mini Cooper Hatch | 307 | – 8.1% | 17 | 2,642 | + 10.4% | 19 | 15 |
| 19 | Audi A6 | 306 | n/a | 19 | 1,752 | + 82.5% | 30 | 51 |
| 20 | Volvo XC60 | 289 | – 48.7% | 14 | 3,183 | – 9.1% | 14 | 11 |
| 21 | BMW X7 | 287 | – 10.6% | 21 | 2,821 | – 9.3% | 17 | 14 |
| 22 | Porsche Cayenne | 264 | + 19.5% | 29 | 1,557 | – 43.3% | 32 | 17 |
| 23 | Polestar 4 | 262 | + 4.0% | 24 | 2,920 | + 92.1% | 16 | 26 |
| 24 | Mercedes CLE | 243 | + 53.8% | 28 | 2,076 | – 6.3% | 24 | 20 |
| 25 | Lexus RX | 239 | – 6.3% | 22 | 1,846 | + 20.9% | 28 | 33 |
| 26 | BMW i5 | 217 | + 185.5% | 23 | 2,164 | + 100.7% | 22 | 36 |
| 27 | Toyota Camry | 196 | + 24.1% | 27 | 1,660 | + 9.9% | 31 | 31 |
| 28 | Mercedes G Class | 186 | + 18.5% | 20 | 1,827 | – 18.6% | 29 | 21 |
| 29 | Audi Q5 | 185 | + 107.9% | 35 | 2,132 | n/a | 23 | 70 |
| 30 | BMW iX3 | 185 | n/a | 25 | 491 | + 45.3% | n/a | 69 |
| 31 | Mercedes C Class | 185 | + 10.8% | 30 | 950 | – 54.3% | 46 | 27 |
| 32 | Toyota Alphard | 180 | + 34.3% | 32 | 1,251 | + 28.3% | 37 | 42 |
| 33 | Porsche Macan EV | 173 | + 3.6% | n/a | 357 | – 63.1% | n/a | 41 |
| 34 | BMW X6 | 171 | – 43.4% | 26 | 2,016 | – 18.3% | 25 | 19 |
| 35 | BYD Seal | 154 | + 13.2% | 46 | 1,192 | + 562.2% | 39 | 108 |
| 36 | VW Golf | 143 | + 16.3% | 33 | 1,129 | + 88.5% | 42 | 54 |
| 37 | BMW iX1 | 137 | + 218.6% | 44 | 756 | + 132.6% | n/a | 86 |
| 38 | Porsche Panamera | 137 | + 13.2% | 47 | 1,030 | – 35.5% | 43 | 34 |
| 39 | BMW X1 | 132 | – 43.6% | 42 | 1,352 | – 21.3% | 35 | 28 |
| 40 | Porsche Taycan | 128 | – 20.0% | 45 | 1,457 | + 11.9% | 33 | 35 |
| 41 | Volvo S90 | 123 | – 35.3% | 38 | 1,152 | + 27.0% | 40 | 39 |
| 42 | Jeep Wrangler | 121 | + 65.8% | n/a | 264 | – 61.3% | n/a | 46 |
| 43 | BMW iX | 118 | – 2.5% | 41 | 911 | + 190.1% | 48 | 94 |
| 44 | Volvo XC40 | 117 | – 29.5% | n/a | 929 | – 43.4% | 47 | 24 |
| 45 | BMW 2 Series | 114 | + 776.9% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 46 | BMW 4 Series | 109 | – 49.5% | 36 | 1,140 | – 24.3% | 41 | 32 |
| 47 | Mini Countryman | 104 | + 13.0% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 40 |
| 48 | BMW 2 Series Active Tourer | 101 | + 62.9% | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 48 |
| 49 | Lexus UX | 101 | + 44.3% | 43 | 758 | + 92.4% | n/a | 60 |
| 50 | Toyota Crown | 97 | + 1.0% | 49 | 875 | + 86.6% | 50 | 65 |
Source: KAIDA, manufacturers
This Post Has 2 Comments
hello Matt,
no figures for foreign models?
thanks for your impressive job.
Phil
Thank you Phil for picking this up – amended now. And thanks for the compliment!