Korean Domestic Production (Brand) : 2017-18

Local total vehicle production has been dropping lately in Korea. Hyundai managed to keep things even in 2018 but all of the rest all lost out in some way. Kia (-2%) and SsangYong (-3%) were marginal losers but the others a little more so.

While that sounds negative, protection of the domestic market allows the total numbers of production to be substantial. Of course, an aggressive export

Japan / Korea JLR Comparison : 2010-18

Can we learn anything from this comparison. Absolutely. They are in close proximity but there are clearly differences in mentality. Korea has import duty applied to vehicles entering the country, Japan does not. Sales in Japan are three times the number. So JLR has a much easier time in Japan. Er...not so fast.

The data:

This covers the past  the past nine years, so the 1.4 million figure

Korea Premium Sales Comparison : 2016-18

Unlike Japan, things in Korea bounce around a lot more. Mercedes has pushed to the top, with home town hero Genesis currently second. BMW had a problem with engines catching fire and they may have hurt them as that sort of thing doesn't go down well. Audi had the dieselgate issue and has been affected adversely by that, hence the collapse in 2017.

Both JLR and Lexus have a strong presence in

Korea Top 40 Models : 2018

Korea has a protected market despite a successful car industry. That gives local manufacturers a foundation to build its industry on. Hyundai and Kia lead the way and have the top ten models in the domestic market. The first import comes in at #18, the Mercedes E-Class. The top European models are the MINI Hatch and Land Rover Discovery Sport, neither of which made the list at just over 4,000

Japan / Korea JLR Comparison : 2010-16

These two Asian neighbours are not exactly the same size when it comes to car sales. Korea is around the 1.4 million mark while Japan is over 4 million as an average for both from 2010 to 2016. So what do we learn? Despite Korea having tariffs on imports and Japan not, the data would give the impression the opposite was the case.

Korea: JLR penetration is a respectable 0.44%, the same as the

Korea Car Sales - Brand / 2016

Total sales were 1,568,657, the same as 2015. Local makes increased slightly, despite Hyundai falling 14%. These figures exclude commercial vehicles, which most other statistics include. If they were added, then local market share would be higher.

Going back into the annals of time in Korea car sales, Kia was the top selling brand in 1975 for one year shortly after it started making Mazda

Import Car Sales In Korea: Europe vs Japan vs USA

The BMW 520d was top import in 2013


Imports have always had a tough time penetrating a market protected by tariffs. Luxury marques are not too badly affected, but run of the mill brands often struggle or even give up. This situation favours European makes, as they have the most premium brands.

Going back twenty years, only Europe and the USA sold cars in Korea. Up until the year 2000, Europe

Car Sales Korea (Total): 2011

When you look at the Korean market, you soon see something is amiss. When people are offered choice, unhindered by government intervention, then many brands will do well. Import duties among other things create imbalanced sales. That is what has happened in Korea. It wants to export, but not import, an attitude seen across Asia. To see what I mean, below shows passenger car sales for 2011, market

South Korea – Cars Rated

The Hyundai/Kia Company dominates but there are a few other brands manufacturing there.

2007 Production: 3.7 million cars and 4.1 m vehicles in total.

General perception: Cheap prices, value for money but not quite up to the standard of Japanese and European cars. Dull designs and poor drive appeal.

I say: The prices are rising, as is the quality. They still are good value. Saying you drive a