South Korea Import Vehicle Sales Jump 6% to 29,860 Units in May
TSLA•Import sales rose 6% in May to 29,860 units, up from 28,189, with year-to-date volumes up 32% to 145,973 units. Tesla’s sales jumped fourfold to 45,020 units, making it the leading import brand with a 31% segment share, outperforming BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
1. May Import Market Growth
Imported light vehicle registrations in South Korea increased 6% in May to 29,860 units, following a 58% surge in April. Year-to-date imports climbed 32% to 145,973 units, while domestic sales among the country’s five main automakers fell 4.7% to 541,712 units.
2. Tesla’s Dominant Import Performance
Tesla led the import segment with sales rising fourfold to 45,020 units through May, capturing a 31% share of total imports. This surge underscores strong local demand for the Model 3 and Model Y battery electric vehicles.
3. Competitor Sales Overview
BMW’s combined BMW and Mini brands posted a modest 3% rise to 32,581 and 23% gain to 3,255 units, respectively, totaling just under 25% share. Mercedes-Benz sales fell 9% to 24,211 units in the first five months, while Volkswagen Group saw a 7.5% increase to 11,595 units.
