*This content was translated by AI.
The domestic market for imported passenger cars concluded the first half of this year with significant growth. According to a release by the Korea Association of Import Vehicle Dealers (KAIDA) on the 3rd, new registrations of imported passenger cars in June 2026 totaled 38,059 units, marking a 27.5% increase from the previous month (29,860 units) and a 37.0% rise compared to the same period last year (27,779 units). Consequently, cumulative registrations for the first half of the year through June reached 184,032 units, reflecting a two-digit growth rate of 33.2% compared to the same period last year (138,120 units). The association explained that the sharp increase in registrations was driven by secured inventory from certain brands and the impact of new model launches.
Electric Vehicles Led by Tesla and BYD Surpass 50% Market Share
The most prominent feature of the June imported car market was the overwhelming dominance of electric vehicles (EVs). In terms of registrations by fuel type, EVs recorded 19,453 units, capturing a majority share of 51.1%. Plug-in hybrids followed with 15,125 units (39.7%), maintaining robust demand, while gasoline accounted for only 3,211 units (8.4%) and diesel for just 270 units (0.7%). Statistics by engine displacement also showed that the "Other" category, which includes EVs, was the largest with 19,453 units (51.1%), followed by vehicles under 2,000cc with 10,963 units (28.8%).
The dominance of electric vehicles was also clearly reflected in brand rankings. Tesla secured an overwhelming first place with 11,119 units (a 29.22% market share), while traditional powerhouses BMW and Mercedes-Benz took second and third places with 6,569 units and 5,565 units, respectively. Notably, China's BYD surged to fourth place with 4,652 units registered, drawing significant attention. Registrations by country also reflected the growth of the United States, a major EV producer, and the rise of China, resulting in the following order: Europe (18,820 units, 49.4%), the United States (11,445 units, 30.1%), China (4,652 units, 12.2%), and Japan (3,142 units, 8.3%).
Best-Selling Cars Sweep Top Ranks… Clear Regional Gaps by Purchase Type
The best-selling models for June (by trim) were Tesla's Model Y L with 5,155 units and the Model Y Premium with 3,318 units, taking first and second place respectively. BYD's DOLPHIN ranked third with 2,747 units, meaning all top three models were electric vehicles. In cumulative rankings for the first half of the year by model group, Tesla's Model Y maintained an unrivaled first place with 43,359 units, while the BMW 5 Series (11,837 units) and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (11,820 units) engaged in a fierce battle for second place.
Meanwhile, by purchase type, individual purchases accounted for 27,110 units (71.2%) of total registrations, while corporate purchases totaled 10,949 units (28.8%). Regional preferences varied sharply depending on the purchaser. In the case of individual purchases, there was a clear concentration in the capital region, with Gyeonggi (33.4%), Seoul (16.4%), and Incheon (7.1%) leading the way. Conversely, corporate purchases were dominated by registrations in port cities and major metropolitan areas, including Incheon (29.4%), Busan (28.4%), and South Gyeongsang Province (11.2%).
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*This content was translated by AI.
