South Korea report: domestic sales fall 15% in February

GlobalData

Wed, March 4, 2026 astatine 4:38 AM CST 8 min read

Domestic income by South Korea’s 5 main automakers combined fell by 15% to 95,638 units successful February 2026 from 112,258 units a twelvemonth earlier, according to preliminary wholesale information released individually by the main section manufacturers. The information bash not see income by South Korea’s low-volume commercialized conveyance manufacturers, including Tata-Daewoo and Edison Motors, portion import brands are covered successful a abstracted study aboriginal successful the month.

With the prolonged Lunar New Year holidays this twelvemonth falling successful February, the marketplace past period was affected by less moving days compared with past year. The wide marketplace remains sluggish, however, with income successful the archetypal 2 months of the twelvemonth falling by 3.5% to 195,798 units from 202,845 units a twelvemonth earlier.

The system contracted by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter successful the 4th fourth of 2025, reversing a 1.3% enlargement successful the 3rd quarter, reflecting weaker concern and exports, portion home depletion was supported by caller involvement complaint cuts by the cardinal bank, from 3.5% to 2.5%. The South Korean system expanded by conscionable nether 1% past year, down from 2% successful 2024, reflecting anemic user and firm sentiment.

Hyundai reported an astir 6% diminution successful home income to 97,216 units successful the archetypal 2 months of 2026, down from 103,270 units a twelvemonth earlier, portion Kia’s deliveries were somewhat higher astatine 85,109 units. GM Korea was the worst performer, with income plunging by astir 38% to 1,692 units, followed by Renault Korea with a 36% driblet to 4,239 units, portion KG Mobility saw its income surge by 38% to 6,887 units, helped by the motorboat of the battery-powered Musso pickup truck.

Global income by the country’s “big-five” automakers, including vehicles produced overseas, declined somewhat to 1,214,211 units year-to-date from 1,225,822 units a twelvemonth earlier, portion overseas income were besides somewhat little astatine 1,018,413 units from 1,027,393 units.

Hyundai Motor’s planetary income fell by 5% to 306,528 units successful February from 322,852 units successful the aforesaid period of past year, reflecting a crisp driblet successful home deliveries and a much mean diminution successful overseas sales. Global income successful the archetypal 2 months of the twelvemonth fell by 3% to 615,088 units from 633,814 units successful the aforesaid play past year.

Domestic income fell by 18% to 47,008 vehicles successful February from 57,216 a twelvemonth earlier, reflecting successful portion the timing of this year’s Lunar New Year holidays, aft volumes roseate by 9% to 50,208 units successful January. Domestic income successful the archetypal 2 months of the twelvemonth were down by astir 6% to 97,216 units from 103,270 units a twelvemonth earlier.