Korea Car Sales By Import Brand : 2013

BMW Group CEO in Korea with a 420d

Selling imported brands in Korea is a challenge. They face sizable duties to protect the local market. However, while higher priced marques have felt it less, most brands are enjoying increasing sales. Imports now exceed 10% of total passenger car sales. A 20% increase in import sales in 2013 was good, following a pattern of improving market penetration. Still a way to go and I wonder why the import tariffs cannot be reduced. Korean cars are capable of competing on an even field.

Some brands such as Subaru have come and gone, many stay and do quite well. Generally European and US brands fare better. Both Land Rover and Jaguar continue to grow well.

The top five brands are local, so the rankings start at #6.

11	12	13		Sales	Share	+/-
6	6	6	BMW	33,066	21.1%	17%
8	8	7	VW	25,649	16.4%	39%
7	7	8	Mercedes	24,780	15.8%	22%
9	9	9	Audi	20,044	12.8%	33%
10	10	10	Toyota	7,438	4.8%	-31%
13	12	11	Ford	7,214	4.6%	41%
11	11	12	MINI	6,301	4.0%	6%
12	13	13	Lexus	5,425	3.5%	9%
14	15	14	Honda	4,856	3.1%	23%
15	14	15	Chrysler	4,143	2.6%	0%
20	18	16	Land Rover	3,103	2.0%	62%
18	17	17	Nissan	3,061	2.0%	28%
16	16	18	Peugeot	2,776	1.8%	15%
21	20	19	Porsche	2,041	1.3%	35%
19	19	20	Volvo	1,960	1.3%	11%
22	21	21	Jaguar	1,901	1.2%	59%
17	22	22	Infiniti	1,116	0.7%	1%
-	-	23	Fiat	507		new
29	25	24	Citroen	476		87%
23	24	25	Cadillac	300		-37%
26	26	26	Bentley	164		21%
25	27	27	Mitsubishi	146		80%
27	28	28	Rolls Royce	30		11%
24	23	-	Subaru	-
28	-	-	Maybach	-
			Total	156,497		20%

Data source: Thanks to Kaida.

A Land Rover at a Korean Motor show