Tesla dominates South Korea’s imported-car market as China growth slows

  • Tesla sold 10,400 imported cars in South Korea, exceeding BMW and Mercedes-Benz combined.
  • 15,183 electric vehicles represented 50.9% of South Korea’s 29,817 August registrations.
  • Tesla’s China-made EV sales rose 3.6% annually but fell 7.9% from July.

Tesla extended its dominance of South Korea’s imported-car market in August, selling 10,400 vehicles—more than BMW and Mercedes-Benz combined—and holding the top brand position for seven consecutive months. The Model Y Premium and Model Y L ranked first and second among passenger-car models, while electric vehicles accounted for 15,183 of 29,817 imported-car registrations, or 50.9%. Total registrations fell 3.7% from July but rose 9.2% from a year earlier, and January-August registrations increased 27.2% to 244,825 units. The result contrasts with Tesla’s slowing momentum in China, where China-made EV sales rose 3.6% year over year to 86,166 units in August, down 7.9% from July’s level and far below July’s 38% annual growth. Tesla’s share of China’s pure battery-electric market fell to 6.6% in the second quarter of 2026 from a peak above 15% in 2020, as domestic manufacturers compete with lower prices and localized features.

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