In a market where the top two brands, Hyundai and Kia, control together over 70% of the market share and the top 10 best-selling models ranking is almost entirely held by the two Koreans.

Up to October 2023, the new best seller is a sedan, the very popular Hyundai Grandeur, which moves up  3 spots into leadership with 96,672 sales (+77.8%).

In second place previous year’s leader the Hyundai Porter with 82,367 sales (+8.2%) followed by the  Kia Sorento -down 1 spots- with 68,379 sales (+24.7%).

The Kia Carnival rises 2 spots into 4th with 58,695 sales (+32.9%) followed by the Kia Sportage with 58,028 new registrations (+33.6%), the Hyundai Avante with 54,394 units sold (+21.4%) and the Kia Bongo with 53,249 sales (-2.8%).

In 8th ranks the Kia Seltos -up 6 spots- with 42,633 new registrations (+21.3%) ahead of the Kia Ray with 42,089 units sold (+16.4%) and the Genesis G80 closing the top 10 with 38,084 sales (+0.0%).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

In a market where the top two brands, Hyundai and Kia, control together over 63% of the market share, the top 10 best-selling models ranking is entirely held by the two Koreans.

In 2022, the best seller is a light vehicle, the very popular Hyundai Porter, which confirms the previous year leadership, with 92,411 sales (+0.2%) and a safe gap over the followers to win the full year race.

In second place the Kia Sorento, up 3 spots, with 68,902 sales (-1.5%) followed by the  Hyundai Grandeur with 67,030 sales (+9.2%), down 1 spot.

In fourth place rises the Kia Bongo, with 64,826 sales (+8.5%) followed by the Kia Carnival with 59,058 (-19.4%), the Hyundai Avante with 58,743 (-17.3%) and the Kia Sportage with 55,394 (+39.3%) which benefited from the last generation success.

In 8th place the Hyundai Palisade with 49,737 (-5.0%) ahead of the Hyundai Sonata with 48,308 sales and the Hyundai Casper, rising 27 spots into 10th with 48,002 sales (+344.2%).

Remarkable the success of other models, like the Kia  EV6 in 26th (+125.5%), the Genesis G90 in 28th  (+356.5%) and the new Ssangyong Torres in 29th.

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

In a market where the top two brands, Hyundai and Kia, control together a dominating percentage of the market share, the top 10 best-selling models ranking is entirely held by the two Koreans except for the Genesis G80.

The best-seller in 2021 is the Hyundai Porter, with 92,218 units sold (5.4% share).

In second place, overtaken by the new leader, the Hyundai Grandeur with 5.2% market share and 89,084 units sold, ahead of the rising Kia Carnival, jumping 5 spots with 73,233 units sold (4.3% share).

In fourth position the Hyundai Avante -down 1 spot- with 71,031 units (4.1% share) followed by the Kia Sorento with 69,934 units (4.1% share) and the Hyundai Sonata with 63,109 units (3.7% share).

In seventh place the Kia Bongo with 59,729 units (3.5% share), ahead of the Kia K5 which ended up in eighth position -down 4 spots-, with 59,499 units (3.5% share).

The Genesis G80 rose 2 positions registering 59,463 units sold (3.5% share), followed by the Hyundai Palisade which fell 3 spots with 52,338 units sold (3.1% share).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

In a market where the top two brands, Hyundai and Kia, control together a dominating percentage of the market share, the top 10 best-selling models ranking is entirely held by the two Koreans.

The best-seller in 2020 is the Hyundai Grandeur, still on top, with 145.463 units sold (7.8% share).

In second place, again behind the leader, the Hyundai Porter with a decreasing market share of 5.1% with 95.694 units sold, ahead of the rising Hyundai Avante with 87.731 units sold (4.7% share).

In fourth position the Kia K5 – up 13 spots – with 84.550 units (4.5% share) followed by the Kia Sorento -up 4 spots- with 82.275 units (4.4% share) and the Hyundai Sonata -down 3 spots- with 67.440 units (3.6% share).

In seventh place the Hyundai Palisade -up 4 spots- with 64.791 units (3.5% share), ahead of the Kia Carnival which ended up in eighth position, with 64.195 units (3.4% share).

The Kia Bongo falls 2 spots registering 61.906 units sold (3.3% share), followed by the free-falling Hyundai Santa Fe which dropped 6 positions with 57.578 units sold (3.1% share).

Tables with sales figures

In the tables below we report sales for Top 50 models.

In a market where the top two brands, Hyundai and Kia, control together the 67% of the share, the ranking of best selling model is normally dominated by the model of the two leaders, which hold the Top 11 models.

However, the leadership is not stable and frequently a new model takes the lead, some time just for a years. Actually the best-seller in 2019 was the Hyundai Grandeur, still on top, with 5.8% of share, despite declining in double-digits.

In second place, just a few units behind, the Hyundai Porter with share at 5.8%, ahead of the Sonata with 5.6%.

In fourth position the Hyundai Santa Fe with 5.1% followed by the Kia Carnival with 3.7% and the 2010 leader, the Hyundai Avante with the same market share. 

In seventh place the Kia Bongo – with 3.4% – and for the first time within the top 10, the Kia K7, followed by the Sorento and the Morning.

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According to data released by KAMA and KAIDA, in the 2018 the South Korean Car Passenger’s market is stable. Indeed, the year ended with 1.806.609 units sold, improving 1.3% from last year. Thus, the market is back on track after the marginal fall registered in 2017.

As far as the best-selling vehicles in 2018, on top of the list again the previous year leader, the Hyundai Grandeur with 113.101 sales (-14.4%).

In second place the Hyundai Santa Fe with 107.202 sales, up 8 spots (+107.5%) followed by the 2016 leader, the Hyundai Porter, with 97.995 units (-3.4%).

In fourth place the Kia Carnival with 76.362 (+11.7%) followed by the Hyundai Avante with 75.831 (-9.6%), the Kia Sorento with 67.200 (-14.3%) and the Hyundai Sonata, the 2015 leader, with 65.846 sales (-20.4%).

In eight place the Kia Bongo with 59.254 (-4.7%) ahead of the Kia Morning with 59.042 sales (-16.2%) and in 10th place the Hyundai Kona with 50.468 (+114.6%).

Research, Consulting, Data & Forecast

F2M covers intensively this market with several products developed to help any investigation required. Market Researches in PDF are immediately available for download with study on the market since 2005 and with forecast up to the 2022. Auto Data in EXCEL are immediately downloadable with annual sales volume, split by month, for all brands and all models distributed in the market. This year data are released year to date, but you will receive a monthly update until the year-end. All these and more within our South Korea Store.

Rank 2018	Rank 2017	Model	Sales 2018	Sales 2017	'+/- 2018
1	1	Hyundai Grandeur	113.101	132.080	-14,4%
2	10	Hyundai Santa fe	107.202	51.661	107,5%
3	2	Hyundai Porter	97.995	101.423	-3,4%
4	7	Kia Carnival	76.362	68.386	11,7%
5	3	Hyundai Avante	75.831	83.861	-9,6%
6	5	Kia Sorento	67.200	78.458	-14,3%
7	4	Hyundai Sonata	65.846	82.703	-20,4%
8	8	Kia Bongo	59.254	62.184	-4,7%
9	6	Kia Morning	59.042	70.437	-16,2%
10	26	Hyundai Kona	50.468	23.522	114,6%
11	14	Hyundai Grand Starex	50.180	45.776	9,6%
12	18	Kia K5	48.503	38.184	27,0%
13	22	Kia K3	44.514	28.165	58,0%
14	9	Ssangyong Tivoli	43.897	55.280	-20,6%
15	13	Hyundai Tucson	42.623	46.416	-8,2%
16	27	SsangYong Korando Sports	42.021	22.912	83,4%
17	12	Kia K7	40.978	46.578	-12,0%
18	11	Chevrolet Spark	39.868	47.244	-15,6%
19	21	Mercedes E Class	38.568	32.414	19,0%
20	15	Kia Sportage	37.403	42.232	-11,4%
21	16	Genesis G80	37.219	39.762	-6,4%
22	24	BMW 5 Series	35.003	24.119	45,1%
23	23	Samsung QM6	32.999	27.837	18,5%
24	19	Hyundai H-1 Truck	31.237	35.368	-11,7%
25	28	Kia Ray	27.021	20.521	31,7%
26	17	Samsung SM6	24.800	39.389	-37,0%
27	25	Kia Niro	22.811	23.647	-3,5%
28	20	Chevrolet Malibu	17.052	33.325	-48,8%
29	30	SsangYong G4 Rexton	16.674	16.381	1,8%
30	39	Kia Stonic	16.305	9.133	78,5%
31	57	Genesis G70	14.407	4.554	216,4%
32	35	BMW 3 Series	13.056	11.992	8,9%
33	38	Mercedes C Class	12.806	9.353	36,9%
34	29	Chevrolet Trax	12.787	16.549	-22,7%
35	92	Kia K9	11.843	1.553	662,6%
36	37	Hyundai H-1 Bus	9.925	9.425	5,3%
37	45	Samsung SM5	9.492	7.247	31,0%
38	32	Hyundai Ioniq	9.426	12.399	-24,0%
39	41	Lexus ES	8.200	8.043	2,0%
40	31	Kia Mohave	7.837	15.205	-48,5%
41	33	Genesis EQ900	7.570	12.300	-38,5%
42	53	Toyota Camry	7.376	5.709	29,2%
43	46	Samsung SM3	6.467	7.077	-8,6%
44	49	Mercedes S Class	6.465	6.233	3,7%
45	34	Samsung QM3	6.367	12.228	-47,9%
46	51	Ford Explorer	6.307	6.021	4,8%
47	151	Audi A6	5.868	337	1641,2%
48	50	Kia Stinger	5.700	6.122	-6,9%
49	44	Hyundai Accent	5.698	7.496	-24,0%
50	207	Volkswagen Passat	5.555	-

South Korean vehicles market has been closed to foreign vehicles import until the recent (2012) FTA with EU. The entrance of many new competitors fueled the market growth in these years and the all time record sales had been established in three years in a row, with 2016 above 1.8 million units. According to data released by KAMA and KAIDA, in the 2017 the market was penalized by a slow start of the year and the second half recovery was not enough to break a new record again, with light vehicles sales ended at 1.814.399 units, down 1.1%, the third best performance ever.

As far as the best-selling vehicles, a new leader was on top of the list, Hyundai Grandeur with 132.080 sales (+92.2%).

The Hyundai Grandeur actually is a mid-size car  produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai since 1986. The Grandeur has evolved through five generations with intermediate facelifts, and is marketed under various nameplates worldwide—prominently as the Hyundai Azera. The current sixth generation was presented in October 2016.

In second place the 2016 leader,  the Hyundai Porter , with 101.032 units (+4.2%) and in third the Hyundai Avante with 83.861 (-10.6%).

In fourth place the Hyundai Sonata, the 2015 leader, with 82.703 sales (+0.6%) ahead of the Kia Sorento with 78.458 (-2.8%), the Kia Morning with 70.437 sales (-6.3%) and the Kia Carnival with 68.386 (+3.7%).

In eight place the Kia Bongo, up 4 spots, with 62.184 (+9.5%) ahead of the Ssangyong Tivoli, up 2 spots, with 55.280 (-2.9%) and in 10th place the Hyundai Santa Fe with 51.661 sales (-32.8%).

Research, Consulting, Data & Forecast

F2M covers intensively this market with several products developed to help any investigation required. Market Researches in PDF are immediately available for download with study on the market since 2005 and with forecast up to the 2022. Auto Data in EXCEL are immediately downloadable with annual sales volume, split by month, for all brands and all models distributed in the market. This year data are released year to date, but you will receive a monthly update until the year-end. All these and more within our South Korea Store.

According to data released by KAMA and KAIDA, the two South Korean Associations of Automotive Manufacturers, in the full year 2016 the best-selling vehicles in South Korea had been the Hyundai Porter sold in 96.950 units (-2.8%), gaining two spots rom the previous year.

In second place the Hyundai Avante with 93.908 sales (-6.6%) ahead of the Hyundai Sonata, the 2015 leader, with 82.203 sales (-24.2%).

In fourth place the Kia Sorento, up 3 spots, with 80.715 (+3.8%) followed by the Chevrolet Spark, up 5 spots, with 78.034 (+32.3%) and the Hyundai Santa Fe with 76.917 sales (-17.2%).

In seventh place the Kia Morning with 75.160 sales (-15.0%), down 2 spots, followed by the Hyundai Grandeur with 68.733 (-21.2%),  the Kia Carnival with 65.927 (-2.4%) and in 10th place the best new entrance, the Samsung SM6 with 57.478 units.

Research, Consulting, Data & Forecast

F2M covers intensively this market with several products developed to help any investigation required. Market Researches in PDF are immediately available for download with study on the market since 2005 and with forecast up to the 2022. Auto Data in EXCEL are immediately downloadable with annual sales volume, split by month, for all brands and all models distributed in the market. This year data are released year to date, but you will receive a monthly update until the year-end. All these and more within our South Korea Store.

According to data released by KAMA and KAIDA, the two South Korean Associations of Automotive Manufacturers, in the 2015 the best-selling vehicles in South Korea has been the Hyundai Sonata, steady from the previous year, with 108.438 sales (+0.4%) ahead of the Hyundai Avante, up 1 spot, with 100.422 sales (+7.0%).

Only these two had outpaced the barrier of 100.000 units. Indeed, the third, the Hyundai Porter had been sold in 99.743 units (+6.6%).

In fourth place the Hyundai Santa Fe with 92.928 sales (+19.6%) followed by the Kia Morning with 88.455 (-7.9%), the Hyundai Grandeur with 87.182 (-6.5%), the Kia Sorento with 77.764 (+104.8%, thanks to the last generation launch) and the Kia Carnival with 67.559 (+62.2%).

The Kia Bongo ranked 9th with 61.863 (+12.3%) followed in 10th place by the Chevrolet Spark with 58.978 (-2.5%).

Great customers tribute for the totally new SsangYong Tivoli launched this year and landed in 15th place with 45.021 units.

Research, Consulting, Data & Forecast Store

F2M covers intensively this market with several products developed to help any investigation required.

Market Researches in PDF are immediately available for download with study on the market since 2005 and with forecast up to the 2020.

Auto Data in EXCEL are immediately downloadable with annual sales volume, split by month, for all brands and all models distributed in the market. This year data are released year to date, but you will receive a monthly update until the year-end.

All these and more within our South Korea Store.

Below, you can sort our interactive tables to see data regarding Brands, Groups and Models. Please bear in mind that sales data are subject to adjustments as sources will update their information. This report is updated at the publishing date and will not be modified while the next on this subject will always have the year to date data updated.