The Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association said Tuesday that new registrations of imported passenger cars totaled 20,960 in January, up 37.6% from a year earlier. The figure was down 26.7% from December.
By brand, BMW ranked first with 6,270 registrations, ahead of Mercedes-Benz with 5,121. It was followed by Tesla (1,966), Lexus (1,464), BYD (1,347), Volvo (1,037), Audi (847) and Porsche (702).
By engine displacement, vehicles under 2,000cc accounted for 9,711 (46.3%). Models from 2,000cc to under 3,000cc totaled 5,781 (27.6%); 3,000cc to under 4,000cc, 694 (3.3%); and 4,000cc or more, 344 (1.6%). Other categories, including electric vehicles, totaled 4,430 (21.1%).
By origin, European brands made up 15,132 registrations (72.2%), followed by the United States with 2,291 (10.9%), Japan with 2,190 (10.4%) and China with 1,347 (6.4%).
By fuel type, hybrids led with 13,949 (66.6%), followed by electric vehicles with 4,430 (21.1%), gasoline with 2,441 (11.6%) and diesel with 140 (0.7%).
Of the 20,960 vehicles sold, individual buyers accounted for 12,200 (58.2%) and corporate buyers for 8,760 (41.8%). Among individual purchases, registrations were highest in Gyeonggi (3,711, 30.4%), Seoul (2,464, 20.2%) and Incheon (726, 6.0%). For corporate purchases, Incheon led with 2,930 (33.4%), followed by Seoul with 2,678 (30.6%) and South Gyeongsang with 1,335 (15.2%).
The best-selling model in January was the Mercedes-Benz E 200 with 1,207 registrations. The BMW 520 (1,162) and Tesla Model Y (1,134) also ranked near the top.
KAIDA Vice Chairman Jeong Yun-young said January registrations rose from a year earlier due to increased electric-vehicle sales and the impact of new brands.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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