Imported Passenger Cars Surpass 300,000 Units... BMW Tops the Market for Second Consecutive Year

Electric Vehicle Brands Such as Tesla, Polestar, and BYD Make Significant Strides

Last year, the number of imported passenger cars sold in South Korea surpassed 300,000 units for the first time ever. BMW, a traditional powerhouse in the domestic market, overtook Mercedes-Benz to claim the top spot for the second consecutive year, while new electric vehicle brands such as Tesla, Polestar, and BYD also stood out.

According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) on January 6, the number of newly registered imported passenger cars last year reached 307,377 units, marking a 16.7% increase from the previous year. This is the first time that the number of imported passenger car registrations has exceeded 300,000 since the opening of the import car market in 1995, when BMW established its direct sales system.

BMW 5 Series. Provided by BMW Group

By brand, BMW led the market with 77,127 units sold, maintaining its top position for the second year in a row as of 2024. BMW achieved a balanced sales performance across all types of vehicles, including internal combustion engine, plug-in hybrid, and electric models, securing a 25% share of the domestic imported car market.

Mercedes-Benz followed with 68,467 units sold. The brand's sales increased by 3% compared to the previous year, accounting for a 22% market share.

Tesla recorded the highest sales growth rate. The company sold 59,916 units, achieving a triple-digit (101%) year-on-year increase in sales. This was driven by the popularity of competitively priced models such as the China-made rear-wheel drive Model Y in the domestic market.

Emerging electric vehicle brands such as BYD and Polestar also showed remarkable growth. Polestar sold 2,957 units, up 269% from the previous year, while BYD, in its first year in the Korean market, sold 6,107 units. Although their total sales volumes remain modest, it is significant that these new brands have established a presence in the domestic market solely with electric vehicles.

The best-selling models of 2025 were Tesla’s Model Y (37,925 units), Mercedes-Benz E 200 (15,567 units), and BMW 520 (14,579 units), in that order.

By fuel type, hybrid vehicles led the market with 174,218 units sold (56.7%), followed by electric vehicles with 91,253 units (29.7%), gasoline vehicles with 38,512 units (12.5%), and diesel vehicles with 3,394 units (1.1%).

Jung Yoon-young, Vice Chairman of KAIDA, explained, "The imported passenger car market in 2025 grew compared to the previous year, driven by increased electric vehicle sales and the entry of new brands."