Import Car Sales In Korea: Europe vs Japan vs USA

The BMW 520d was top import in 2013

Imports have always had a tough time penetrating a market protected by tariffs. Luxury marques are not too badly affected, but run of the mill brands often struggle or even give up. This situation favours European makes, as they have the most premium brands.

Going back twenty years, only Europe and the USA sold cars in Korea. Up until the year 2000, Europe was asserting itself due mainly to the above mentioned reason. Then the Japanese brands started arriving in 2001. They advanced to over a third of total imports by 2008, but have recently fallen away. Only Lexus and Infiniti carry the premium flag for Japan and that doesn't do enough. Europe have so many marques in that area, they are nudging 80% of all import sales.

		Europe		Japan		USA
	94	1,962	51%			1,903	49%
	95	4,343	63%			2,578	37%
	96	6,135	60%			4,180	40%
	97	3,970	49%			4,166	51%
	98	848	41%			1,227	59%
	99	1,640	68%			761	32%
	00	3,176	72%			1,238	28%
	01	5,404	70%	841	11%	1,502	19%
	02	10,182	63%	2,968	18%	2,969	18%
	03	12,535	64%	3,774	20%	3,172	16%
	04	12,999	56%	6,837	29%	3,509	15%
	05	18,010	58%	9,080	30%	3,811	12%
	06	23,769	59%	12,205	30%	4,556	11%
	07	29,522	55%	17,633	33%	6,235	12%
	08	32,756	53%	21,912	36%	6,980	11%
	09	37,826	62%	17,027	28%	6,140	10%
	10	59,242	66%	23,870	26%	7,450	8%
	11	77,849	74%	18,936	18%	8,252	8%
	12	97,210	74%	23,924	18%	9,724	7%
	13	122,798	79%	22,042	14%	11,657	7%
	Tot	562,176	67%	181,049	22%	92,010	11%
	GT	835,235	Av	41,762

Data source: Thanks to Kaida.

The VW Tiguan 2.0L TDi BlueMotion came in second