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Today β€” 13 February 2026Main stream

South Korea January 2026: Kia topples Hyundai to #1, monopolises podium

βœ‡Best Selling Cars Blog
By:Matt Gasnier
13 February 2026 at 08:51

The Kia Sorento confirms it is the favourite of South Korean customers.

The South Korean new light vehicle market is up 13.5% year-on-year in January to 120,446 units. This includes 99,495 domestic manufacturers (+9.5%) and 20,951 foreigners (+37.6%). This month Kia (+12.3%) topples traditional leader Hyundai (+11.6%) to rank #1 brand for the first time since exactly a year ago in January 2025. Genesis (-1.7%) disappoints at #3, lodging its lowest monthly volume since last July at 8,671. BMW (+5.2%) overtakes Mercedes (+35.1%) to #4 while KGM (+38.6%) is up two spots on last month to #6 with 2.6% share vs. 1.8% last month. Renault Korea (-13.9%) is relegated to #7. Tesla shoots up 39220% to #8 but still only holds 1.6% of the market vs. 3.6% over the Full Year 2025. Audi (+164.7%), Toyota (+44.7%) and Lexus (+30%) also impress while newcomer BYD is in the Top 10 for the third month in a row at #10.

Looking at domestic models, the Kia Sorento (+12.5%) is back to #1 for the 4th time in the past 5 months, confirming the annual top spot it has held for the past two years. The Kia Sportage (-8.1%) is up to #2 for the 2nd time in the past 3 months, as a reminder it last ranked #1 in November 2021. The Carnival (-13%) completes a podium 100% Kia but disappoints year-on-year. Four Hyundais follow, with the Palisade (+98.1%) and Sonata (+42.1%) lodging the best performances but the Avante (-4%) and Grandeur (-12.2%) in negative. Notice also the Kia Niro (+248.7%), Kona (+47.7%) and Morning (+40.6%).

As for foreign models, the Mercedes E-Class (+54.4%) remains on top above the BMW 5 Series (+8.1%) while the Tesla Model Y takes the third spot. The Mercedes GLC (+26.2%) repeats at #4 ahead of the Lexus NX (+194.9%) up from outside the December Top 50 directly back to #5 while the BMW X3 (+29.5%) is up five ranks on last month to #6. Below, the new BYD Sealion 7 is up two spots to #7 while the BYD Atto 3 cracks the Top 10 for the first time at #8. Note the Telsa Model X is up to #24 with 210 sales and the Model S up to #35 with 140 units.

Previous post: South Korea Full Year 2025: Kia Sorento repeats at #1, Hyundai Avante up to #2

One year ago: South Korea January 2025: Kia Sorento lodges 5th straight win in slow market

Full January 2026 Top 30 All brands, Top 55 All domestic models and Top 50 foreign models below.

South Korea January 2026 – brands:

PosBrandJan-26%/25Dec
1Kia43,12935.8%+ 12.3%2
2Hyundai41,53734.5%+ 11.6%1
3Genesis8,6717.2%– 1.7%3
4BMW6,2705.2%+ 5.2%5
5Mercedes5,1214.3%+ 35.1%4
6KG Mobility3,1872.6%+ 38.6%8
7Renault Korea2,2391.9%– 13.9%6
8Tesla1,9661.6%+ 39220.0%7
9Lexus1,4641.2%+ 30.0%14
10BYD1,3471.1%new10
11Volvo1,0370.9%+ 0.4%9
12Audi8470.7%+ 164.7%16
13GM Korea7320.6%– 39.8%11
14Porsche7020.6%+ 9.0%13
15Toyota6220.5%+ 44.7%12
16Mini5670.5%+ 142.3%15
17Land Rover2240.2%– 31.1%18
18Volkswagen2170.2%+ 68.2%17
19Jeep1170.1%– 2.5%19
20Honda1040.1%– 41.2%20
21Ford640.1%– 82.5%28
22GMC620.1%+ 342.9%30
23Cadillac500.0%+ 92.3%22
24Peugeot330.0%– 13.2%21
25Bentley280.0%+ 180.0%25
26Ferrari270.0%– 15.6%29
27Polestar270.0%– 73.8%24
28Lincoln230.0%– 82.8%26
29Lamborghini210.0%– 63.8%23
30Rolls-Royce110.0%+ 57.1%31
31Maserati00.0%– 100.0%27
 –Total local manufacturers99,49582.6%+ 9.5% –
 –Total foreign manufacturers20,95117.4%+ 37.6% –
 –Total market120,446100.0%+ 13.5% –

South Korea January 2026 – domestic models:

PosModelJan-26/25Dec
1Kia Sorento8,388+ 12.5%2
2Kia Sportage6,015– 8.1%3
3Kia Carnival5,278– 13.0%5
4Hyundai Avante5,244– 4.0%4
5Hyundai Sonata5,143+ 42.1%11
6Hyundai Grandeur5,016– 12.2%1
7Hyundai Palisade4,994+ 98.1%6
8Kia Ray4,446+ 14.7%10
9Hyundai Tucson4,269+ 17.4%7
10Kia Seltos3,698– 14.8%9
11Hyundai Santa Fe3,379– 29.9%12
12Hyundai Porter3,320– 0.4%8
13Hyundai Kona3,163+ 47.7%16
14Genesis G802,993+ 9.6%14
15Kia K52,752+ 6.5%15
16Genesis GV702,702– 1.4%17
17Kia Bongo2,425+ 0.2%18
18Genesis GV802,386– 11.4%19
19Hyundai Staria2,328– 6.3%21
20Kia K82,135– 7.1%20
21Kia Morning2,087+ 40.6%25
22Kia Niro1,991+ 248.7%26
23Hyundai Bus/Truck1,769+ 85.4%24
24Renault Korea Grand Koleos1,663– 18.5%13
25Hyundai Casper1,128+ 21.8%23
26KGM Musso1,123new34
27Kia PV51,026new38
28Hyundai Venue891+ 28.4%22
29Kia EV5847new46
30Kia EV3737+ 71.8%43
31KGM Actyon632+ 32.2%28
32Chevrolet Trax Crossover607– 36.3%27
33KGM Musso EV527new53
34Genesis G90489– 11.7%30
35KGM Torres427– 21.9%33
36Kia EV4396new49
37Kia Tasman376new37
38Renault Korea Arkana369+ 35.7%29
39KGM Tivoli367+ 25.3%31
40Hyundai Ioniq 5314+ 318.7%47
41Hyundai Ioniq 6245+ 1941.7%55
42Hyundai Ioniq 9224new44
43Kia EV6214+ 197.2%48
44Renault Korea Scenic E-Tech207new32
45Kia K9143+ 16.3%40
46Kia Bus/Special135+ 33.7%35
47Chevrolet Trailblazer121– 21390.5%41
48KGM Rexton New Arena87– 20.2%45
49Hyundai Nexo85+ 254.2%36
50Genesis G7083– 22.4%42
51Kia EV940+ 8.1%50
52Hyundai ST125+ 257.1%51
53KGM Torres EVX24+ 100.0%57
54Genesis GV6018+ 800.0%56
55Chevrolet Colorado4– 71.4%54

South Korea January 2026 – foreign models:

PosModelJan-26/25Dec
1Mercedes E Class2,220+ 54.4%1
2BMW 5 Series1,951+ 8.1%3
3Tesla Model Y1,559n/a2
4Mercedes GLC809+ 26.2%4
5Lexus NX802+ 194.9%n/a
6BMW X3689+ 29.5%11
7BYD Sealion 7656new9
8BYD Atto 3634new13
9BMW X5602+ 6.7%12
10BMW 3 Series568+ 46.4%10
11Lexus ES513– 18.8%7
12Mercedes GLE488+ 32.6%5
13BMW 7 Series482+ 4.1%15
14Mercedes S Class461+ 55.7%6
15BMW X7399+ 1.0%16
16Volvo XC60388– 6.7%8
17BMW X6297– 7.2%29
18Mercedes CLE277+ 12.1%20
19Mini Cooper Hatch273+ 82.0%14
20BMW X4223– 3.5%17
21Porsche Taycan218+ 78.7%23
22Audi A5218n/a27
23Volvo XC90218+ 186.8%38
24Tesla Model X210+ 4100.0%46
25Toyota RAV4175+ 326.8%22
26BMW i5173+ 88.0%24
27Porsche Panamera170– 21.3%39
28Volvo XC40166– 15.3%25
29Volvo S90162– 1.2%37
30Mercedes G Class158– 42.1%19
31Mercedes GLS145+ 12.4%26
32Audi A3145n/a50
33BMW X1143– 12.8%31
34Porsche Cayenne141– 42.2%32
35Tesla Model S140n/an/a
36Toyota Alphard137+ 47.3%45
37Porsche 911135n/a49
38BMW 4 Series127+ 21.0%41
39Audi Q3110+ 161.9%n/a
40VW Golf104n/a35
41Mercedes CLA103+ 66.1%48
42Toyota Camry101– 19.2%30
43Mini Aceman100newn/a
44Jeep Wrangler98+ 6.5%33
45Mini Electric94newn/a
46Land Rover Defender93+ 6.9%n/a
47BMW iX93newn/a
48Audi Q892+ 283.3%n/a
49VW Atlas90newn/a
50Audi Q589n/a36

Source: Manufacturers, KAIDA

Before yesterdayMain stream

BYD Atto 3 Evo revealed with 800V system, 4WD, and faster charging

βœ‡CarNewsChina.com
By:Denis Bobylev
11 February 2026 at 07:56

The BYD Atto 3 Evo was unveiled, set to arrive in global markets with an 800V high-voltage system, 4WD, and faster charging capabilities.

The post BYD Atto 3 Evo revealed with 800V system, 4WD, and faster charging appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.

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