[South Korea Data: Chinese Cars Surpassed Japanese Cars in South Korean Market for the First Time]

Published: Jun 2, 2026 11:06
According to a report by Yonhap News Agency on June 1, data released by the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association on the same day showed that among newly registered imported cars in South Korea in April, Chinese-made vehicles ranked third, surpassing Japanese-made vehicles for the first time in history. The data showed that among newly registered imported cars in South Korea in April, European-made vehicles ranked first with 16,800 units, followed by US-made (13,600 units), Chinese-made (2,023 units), and Japanese-made (1,974 units). Yonhap News Agency noted that this was the first time Chinese-made vehicles surpassed Japanese-made vehicles in South Korea's imported car market. South Korean media widely regarded this ranking as an important signal of a shifting landscape in South Korea's imported car market. The Korea Economic Daily reported that Chinese automobile brands are rapidly increasing their presence in the South Korean market.

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