Seoul: Eco-friendly vehicle registrations in South Korea have surpassed the 3-million mark for the first time, driven by rising demand for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), government data showed Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the cumulative number of registered vehicles nationwide stood at 26.41 million as of the end of June, showing an increase of 110,000, or 0.4 percent, from the end of last year. The data from the transport ministry highlighted the growing trend towards eco-friendly transportation options among consumers.
By fuel type, gasoline vehicles accounted for 12.42 million, followed by diesel at 8.85 million, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles at 1.85 million. Eco-friendly cars, which include hybrids, EVs, and hydrogen-powered models, totaled 3.11 million, reflecting a 13.1 percent increase from a year ago. This shift indicates a significant move towards sustainable energy in the automotive industry.
In contrast to the growth of eco-friendly car registrations, the number of internal combustion engine vehicles saw a decline, with a reduction of 249,000 units to 23.12 million. This change underscores the weakening dominance of traditional fuel vehicles in the market.
Of the total registered vehicles, domestic brands represented 22.82 million units, or 86.4 percent, while imported vehicles accounted for 3.59 million, or 13.6 percent. The share of domestic cars decreased slightly by 0.1 percentage point from the end of last year, indicating a subtle shift towards imported vehicles within the eco-friendly segment.