This file photo provided by BMW Korea shows the new 530e i PHEV model.
SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Korea Bizwire) – In the realm of imported automobiles, there has been a noticeable shift in consumer preferences. Interest in diesel sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) is waning, while electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining significant popularity.
In particular, the market for imported electric passenger cars saw a significant milestone in August this year, with 2,926 units sold, surpassing a 10 percent share of monthly sales for the first time.
When examining imported vehicle sales for August by fuel type, the breakdown is as follows: 11,414 gasoline vehicles (42.9 percent), 7,475 hybrid vehicles (32 percent), 2,926 electric vehicles (12.5 percent), 2,035 diesel vehicles (8.7 percent), and 900 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) (3.9 percent).
The combined share of electric vehicles and PHEVs in total sales reached 16.4 percent.
The declining appeal of imported diesel cars among South Korean consumers can be attributed to a growing awareness of their environmental impact.
Additionally, factors like the need for regular urea refills and higher levels of NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness) compared to gasoline, hybrid, and electric vehicles contribute to their reduced convenience and desirability.
It’s worth noting that imported diesel cars are primarily manufactured by German automakers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen.
While Korean automakers such as Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. have discontinued their diesel sedan offerings, these German brands continue to feature diesel cars, including top-of-the-line models like the S-Class, 7-Series, and A8.
According to data released by the Korea Association of Imported Automobiles, the total number of imported diesel sedans and SUVs sold in August was just 2,035 units, accounting for 8.7 percent of the 23,350 new vehicle registrations in August.
This represents a significant decline of 28.8 percent from the 2,859 units (12 percent) sold in August of last year, resulting in a 3.7 percent decrease in market share.
For the first eight months of the year, imported diesel vehicles (diesel cars) totaled 15,873 units (9.1 percent), reflecting a 30.3 percent decrease compared to the same period last year when 22,787 units (12.9 percent) were imported.
The overall market share of imported vehicles also experienced a 3.8 percent decline.
In the context of August’s sales, the top 10 best-selling imported diesel cars featured models like the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d 4MATIC (236 units), Mercedes-Benz E 220d 4MATIC (183 units), Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 TDI (167 units), Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI (165 units), BMW 620d Gran Turismo (163 units), Audi A6 40 TDI (128 units), Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI (104 units), Volkswagen Touareg 3.0 TDI (92 units), Mercedes-Benz S 350d (78 units), BMW 620d xDrive Gran Turismo (73 units), and Mercedes-Benz G 400d (73 units).
Of note, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen dominated the top 10 in imported diesel sales, each with four models, followed by BMW with two models and Audi with one model.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
