Tesla leads imported car sales in South Korea in first half

American electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla became the top-selling imported passenger car brand in South Korea in the first half of this year. The brand captured a 30 percent market share, according to industry data.

Data from the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) showed that 184,032 new imported passenger cars were registered during the January-June period, an increase of 33.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Tesla’s market share jumped from 13.9 percent a year earlier, while its sales surged 192 percent, allowing the US electric vehicle maker to surpass German luxury brands.

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD placed fourth with a 6.3 percent market share. In June, 38,059 new imported passenger cars were registered in South Korea, a 27.5 percent increase from June last year, driven by high demand for electric vehicles. The Tesla Model Y Long Range was the best-selling imported model in June with 5,155 units sold, followed by the Tesla Model Y Premium Long Range with 3,318 units and the BYD Dolphin with 2,747 units.