Electric Vehicles On Way to Replace Imported Diesel Cars

(Image:Kobiz Media)

SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Diesel-powered vehicles, which once led the imported cars market in South Korea, are now being increasingly replaced by electric vehicles (EVs) or other eco-friendly vehicles.

Carisyou Data Lab reported that among 286,722 imported cars sold last year, 52,318 (18 percent) were diesel cars.

It is the first time in 13 years for diesel cars to fall below a 20 percent share of the imported cars market.

Sales of imported diesel cars reached a peak in 2015 at 168,658 cars, and have been dropping ever since, falling to 82,068 cars by 2020.

Demand for diesel cars dropped after nitrogen oxide emitted from diesel cars was found to be the cause of fine dust. The introduction of eco-friendly cars, including hybrid and EVs, has sidelined diesel cars even further.

Volkswagen Group’s “diesel gate” emissions cheating scandal in 2015, in particular, has led to the introduction of stricter regulations, hurting diesel car sales.

Diesel cars, which used to dominate sales charts, are now being replaced by EVs.

Imported EVs, only three of which were sold in 2013, have jumped in sales, with 23,161 sold last year alone.

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)