Monthly Cars: Grandeur Surpasses 10,000 Units in July; Tesla Model Y Holds Top Spot

South Korea's new car market experienced a slowdown in July 2026, with total new vehicle registrations falling by 9.8% from June to 145,658 units. This dip marks a return to a market adjustment phase after a substantial rebound observed in the preceding month.

The decrease in new car registrations was seen across both domestic and imported brands. Compared to the same period last year, July's registrations were down 3.2% from 150,415 units in July 2025. Domestic new car registrations accounted for 114,243 units of the total.

In contrast to the new car market's performance, the used car sector continued its upward trend. Transaction volumes for used vehicles saw an increase for the second consecutive month, suggesting a shift in consumer preference or market dynamics towards pre-owned vehicles.

This monthly analysis of automotive consumption trends is based on new car registration data compiled by Kaizyu Data Research Institute, which integrates vehicle registration information from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and statistics from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association.