Bentley sells more of its US$ 230,000 model at its Cheongdam dealership in Seoul than anywhere else in the world. For all Bentley models, Seoul ranks second in sales behind Dubai. (image: Bentley Korea)
SEOUL, March 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Supercars are selling more than ever in Seoul, and the city is rapidly becoming a new hotspot for supercar brands.
Bentley sells more of its US$ 230,000 model at its Cheongdam dealership in Seoul than anywhere else in the world. For all Bentley models, Seoul ranks second in sales behind Dubai.
Bentley sold 322 cars in Korea last year, which is an increase of 94 percent from 2013. Maserati also saw its sales in Korea grow 470 percent from 2013 to 2014, selling a total of 723 cars in Korea last year.
More than 100 Ferraris were sold last year, as sales more than doubled from 2013. As imported cars are no longer unique, upper-class Koreans are increasingly choosing supercars to stand out from their peers.
Riding this trend, Hyosung Group, the industrial conglomerate and car importer, is set to buy 100 percent of Forza Motors Korea Corporation, the Ferrari and Maserati importer, for 20 billion won (US$ 17.9 million) from DongA One Group. Hyosung Group currently operates car dealerships for Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Lexus.
By M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
