Imported EVs captured 51.1% share in Jan-Sep period, led by Tesla and BYD
China accounts for 84.9% of imported passenger EV volume, expanding its manufacturing footprint
Imported electric vehicles have outsold domestic models in the South Korean passenger EV market. The import market was predominantly driven by Tesla and China's BYD, with approximately 85% of actual import volumes concentrated in China. This trend highlights China's growing stature not only as a finished-car brand origin but as a pivotal hub for EV manufacturing and supply.
According to automobile registration statistics from the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association (KAMA), newly registered passenger EVs in South Korea totaled 258,284 units from January to September 2026. Imports reached 131,869 units (51.1%), surpassing domestic vehicles at 126,415 units (48.9%).
Sales in the imported EV market were heavily concentrated among Tesla and BYD. Data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) shows that newly registered imported battery electric vehicles totaled 132,582 units over the same period. Tesla accounted for 89,148 units and BYD for 19,326 units, together capturing 81.8% of the total.
By model, Tesla's Model Y led sales with 73,123 units, followed by 11,906 registrations of the Model 3. BYD recorded 8,198 units for the Dolphin and 7,109 units for the Sealion 7. Combined registrations for these four models reached 100,336 units, accounting for 75.7% of all imported battery electric vehicles.
A notable takeaway is the China-centric supply structure for imported EVs. According to KAMA automotive trade statistics, newly imported passenger EVs totaled 140,550 units between January and September 2026. Of these, vehicles imported from China reached 119,268 units (84.9%), followed by Germany with 14,620 units (10.4%) and the United States with 4,378 units (3.1%).
U.S. carmaker Tesla manufactures significant volumes of its core domestic models, the Model Y and Model 3, at its Shanghai gigafactory. Combined with the expansion of Chinese brand BYD's domestic sales, Tesla's China-manufactured vehicles have firmly established China as the primary supply hub for South Korea's imported EV market.
