Due to Semiconductor Supply Shortage, November New Imported Car Registrations Drop 30% to 18,000 Units

November Best-Selling Car: Lexus ES300h

[Asia Economy Reporter Yu Je-hoon] Due to the impact of the vehicle semiconductor supply shortage, the number of new registrations of imported cars last month decreased by about 30% compared to the same month last year.

The Korea Imported Automobile Dealers Association (KAIDA) announced on the 3rd that the number of new registrations of imported passenger cars last month was 18,810 units. This is a 0.2% increase compared to October, but a 31.4% decrease compared to the same month last year.

By brand, BMW (4,171 units), Mercedes-Benz (3,545 units), Audi (2,682 units), and Volvo (1,317 units) led the rankings, followed by Volkswagen (910 units), Lexus (866 units), Ford (801 units), Mini (738 units), Jeep (650 units), Toyota (600 units), Honda (484 units), Porsche (444 units), Chevrolet (431 units), Lincoln (336 units), and Peugeot (188 units).

By engine displacement, registrations were 9,855 units (52.4%) under 2,000cc, 6,634 units (35.3%) between 2,000cc and under 3,000cc, 1,360 units (7.2%) between 3,000cc and under 4,000cc, 193 units (1.0%) over 4,000cc, and others (electric vehicles) 768 units (4.1%).

By country, Europe accounted for 14,598 units (77.6%), the United States 2,262 units (12.0%), and Japan 1,950 units (10.4%). By fuel type, gasoline was 9,444 units (50.2%), hybrid 6,054 units (32.2%), diesel 1,724 units (9.2%), plug-in hybrid 820 units (4.4%), and electric 768 units (4.1%).

By purchase type, out of 18,810 units, individual purchases accounted for 11,990 units (63.7%) and corporate purchases 6,820 units (36.3%). Regional registrations for individual purchases were Gyeonggi 3,806 units (31.7%), Seoul 2,565 units (21.4%), and Busan 700 units (5.8%). For corporate purchases, regional registrations were Incheon 2,663 units (39.0%), Busan 1,511 units (22.2%), and Daegu 813 units (11.9%).

The best-selling models last month were the Lexus ES300h (698 units), Audi A6 45 TFSI (521 units), and Volvo XC40 B4 AWD (497 units). Im Han-gyu, Vice Chairman of KAIDA, said, "Positive factors such as new car effects by brand and resolution of supply volumes, combined with negative factors such as supply shortages caused by the semiconductor supply shortage, resulted in the total number of registrations being similar to the previous month."