Hyundai Grandeur Reclaims Top Sales Spot in June; New and Used Car Markets Recover

South Korea's new car market experienced a significant rebound in June 2026, with total registrations climbing to 161,424 units. This represents a 32.0% increase from May 2026 and an 11.5% rise compared to the same period last year, according to data from Kaizoo Data Research Institute, which compiles registration information from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport.

Both domestic and imported new car registrations saw substantial growth. Domestic registrations rose by 33.5% month-on-month to 122,805 units, while imported registrations increased by 27.5% to 38,619 units. Industry officials attributed this recovery to pent-up demand from May, seasonal factors, the growing popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles, and the launch of new models by some manufacturers.

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May was temporarily sluggish due to factors like Children's Day and fewer business days, but in June, a considerable portion of deferred demand was recovered.

Examining sales by fuel type, gasoline vehicles led with 60,467 registrations, a 38.5% increase from the previous month. Hybrid vehicles followed with 43,125 registrations, up 35.6%. Electric vehicles saw a notable 28.8% increase month-on-month and a remarkable 99.7% surge year-on-year, reaching 42,227 registrations. Diesel and LPG vehicles also saw increases but lagged behind in annual growth.

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New car registrations for imported passenger cars in June increased compared to the previous month due to the availability of some brands' inventory and new model effects.

The mid-to-large sedan segment experienced the most significant growth, with a 73.9% increase in registrations, largely influenced by the recovery in sales of the Hyundai Grandeur. SUVs remained the most popular body type, accounting for approximately 87,000 registrations. In terms of specific models, the Hyundai Grandeur reclaimed the top spot among domestic new cars, while the Tesla Model Y continued its dominance in the imported car market for the fifth consecutive month.

Furthermore, the used car market also showed signs of recovery. Total used car transactions in June 2026 reached 190,448 units, an 11.8% increase from May. Experts noted that June is typically a strong month for vehicle transactions due to pre-holiday demand and a rebound after May's shorter business days. The recovery was bolstered by increased individual and corporate transactions, as well as a surge in electric vehicle and Tesla sales in the used market.

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June is typically a period when demand for vehicle replacement surges ahead of the summer vacation and rainy seasons. The deferred transactions from May were concentrated in June, which significantly boosted overall transaction volume.