Seoul: Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea increased by 24.4 percent in February compared to the same month last year, driven by the announcement of government subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs), as indicated by industry data released Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the total number of newly registered imported cars reached 20,199 units in February, rising from 16,237 units a year earlier. This figure also marks a 32.6 percent increase from January.
BMW emerged as the leading brand, selling 6,274 units, with Mercedes-Benz following at 4,663 units. Tesla, Lexus, and Volvo also saw strong performances, recording sales of 2,222 units, 1,337 units, and 1,046 units, respectively.
The breakdown of fuel types showed hybrid registrations leading with 13,013 units, representing 64.4 percent of all new imported cars. Electric vehicles accounted for 18.6 percent, while gasoline and diesel models comprised 16 percent and 1 percent, respectively.