The 2025 South Korean automotive market is characterized by technology innovation centered on electric vehicles and intensified competition among global brands. The domestic market shows stable growth, with particularly rapid expansion in the electric and hydrogen vehicle segments[citation:6][citation:7].
| Category | Current Status | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Total Market Size | Approx. 1.8 million units | 3% growth YoY |
| EV Penetration Rate | 25% | Based on new car sales |
| Hydrogen Vehicle Adoption | Over 50,000 units | Infrastructure expansion continues |
| Autonomous Driving Technology | Level 3 Commercialization | Applied to major premium models |
Domestic automakers plan to launch over 20 new electric vehicle models by 2025. With battery technology advancements and charging infrastructure expansion, EV adoption is becoming full-scale[citation:6][citation:7].
Level 3 autonomous driving technology has begun implementation in premium models. With government deregulation and technology development support, autonomous driving commercialization is accelerating.
BYD, China's leading electric vehicle brand, has been building its presence in Korea since 2016 with commercial vehicles (electric buses, trucks, etc.), with cumulative electric bus supplies exceeding 1,000 units. In 2025, BYD made a full-scale entry into the passenger car market. Starting with small-scale sales initially, it has recently shown rapid growth, shaking up the import car market. In particular, September sales exceeded 1,000 units, making it the 7th best-selling import brand. Cumulative sales from January to September reached 2,967 units (1.32% market share in the import car market). The first half of the year saw 1,337 units (similar to lower-tier brands such as Honda and Peugeot), but explosive growth in the second half (about 1,630 units from July to September) was driven by new models like the SEALION 7. The overall import car market boomed in September with 32,834 registrations (up 32% year-on-year), with electric vehicles accounting for 39.3% of the market. BYD is leading the charge of Chinese electric vehicles in Korea.
Along with hydrogen vehicle adoption, charging station infrastructure is expanding, and competition to secure technological superiority in hydrogen commercial vehicles is intensifying.
The 2025 South Korean automotive market is expected to see technology innovation centered on electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity as key drivers of market restructuring. The combination of domestic automakers' technological competitiveness and global brands' aggressive strategies is anticipated to provide consumers with more diverse options.
| Year | Unique Visitors | Page Views |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | 44 |
