Hyundai and Kia lead market with 5% domestic sales increase

South Korea’s top automakers saw a 5% increase in domestic sales in June, reaching 117,390 units. Hyundai and Kia led the market with new product launches. Overall demand remains subdued due to economic challenges, including a 0.2% GDP contraction in Q1 2025 and an interest rate cut by the central bank.

In the first half of 2025, the country’s main automakers reported a 2.7% rise in domestic sales, totaling 687,932 units. Hyundai drove this growth, while Renault Korea saw a 150% surge in sales. Global sales for the “big-five” automakers increased slightly to 4,003,240 units in the first half of the year.

Hyundai Motor’s global sales rose by 1.5% in June, reaching 358,891 vehicles. Domestic sales increased by 3.8% while overseas sales saw a 1.5% uptick. The company aims to sell 4,174,000 vehicles globally in 2025, focusing on hybrid models.

Kia’s global sales slightly increased in June to 269,652 vehicles, supported by strong demand for SUV models. The company targets a 4% sales increase in 2025, with plans to introduce new models and expand its global market coverage.

GM Korea saw a 7.6% decline in global sales in June, with domestic sales plummeting by 33%. The company’s CFO mentioned potential relocation due to US import tariff hikes. KG Mobility experienced a 1.4% decrease in global sales in June, focusing on expanding zero-emissions vehicle range.

Renault Korea faced a 5% drop in global sales in June, with domestic sales doubling due to the launch of the new Grand Koleos Hybrid SUV. The company continues to overhaul its product range, emphasizing SUVs, BEVs, and hybrids.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: domestic sales up 5% in June