Five Major Carmakers Sell 710,000 Units in March... Eco-Friendly Vehicles Thrive Amid War-Driven High Oil Prices (Comprehensive)

714,828 Units Sold, Up 1.4% Year-on-Year
Kia Posts Highest-Ever First Quarter Sales
All Three Mid-Sized Carmakers See Sharp Sales Growth

Despite the aftermath of the Middle East war, the five major domestic finished carmakers saw a slight increase in sales last month compared to last year.

Kia achieved its highest-ever first-quarter sales, while the three mid-sized companies—GM Korea, KG Mobility (KGM), and Renault Korea—also posted strong results. The surge in international oil prices significantly boosted sales of eco-friendly vehicles.

According to the March sales figures announced by the five automakers on April 1, their combined global sales last month reached 714,828 units, marking a 1.4% increase from the same month last year (704,674 units).

Hyundai Motor sold 358,759 units, Kia sold 285,854 units, GM Korea sold 51,215 units, KGM sold 10,004 units, and Renault Korea sold 8,996 units, respectively.

Hyundai Motor's domestic sales stood at 61,850 units and overseas sales at 296,909 units, representing declines of 2.0% and 2.4%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.

In the domestic sedan market, the Grandeur led the way with 7,574 units sold, followed by the Sonata with 5,786 units and the Avante with 5,479 units. Among RV (recreational vehicle) models, the Kona sold 4,104 units, the Tucson 3,915 units, and the Santa Fe 3,621 units. The luxury brand Genesis recorded total sales of 10,446 units, including 4,001 units of the G80.

In particular, cumulative eco-friendly vehicle sales for the first quarter reached 60,214 units, marking a record high for any quarter. Hybrid models led the performance with 39,597 units sold. Electric vehicle deliveries totaled 19,040 units.

Kia's domestic sales increased by 12.8% to 56,404 units, while overseas sales rose by 0.4% to 228,978 units. Cumulative sales from January to March reached 779,169 units, surpassing the previous record set in the first quarter of last year (772,648 units). In Europe, Kia achieved its highest-ever monthly sales with 58,750 units sold.

The Sorento was the best-selling model in the domestic market, with 10,870 units sold. Kia also set a new quarterly record for electric vehicle sales, delivering 34,303 units in the first quarter. The EV3 was the most popular, accounting for 8,674 units.

GM Korea surpassed 40,000 units in monthly sales for the second time this year, following January. The company sold 50,304 units in overseas markets. The Chevrolet Trax Crossover and Chevrolet Trailblazer sold 30,761 units and 19,543 units, respectively, representing year-on-year increases of 12.6% and 56.0%.

KGM showed a recovery with 4,582 units sold domestically and 5,422 units exported, surpassing 10,000 units for the first time in six months since September last year (10,636 units). The Musso, launched in January, drove sales growth. The Musso sold 1,393 units in February and 1,854 units in March, an increase of over 30% month-on-month, continuing its upward trend.

Renault Korea saw an 8.4% year-on-year increase in sales, driven mainly by hybrid models such as the 'Filante' and 'Grand Koleos.' Hybrid models accounted for 5,999 units, making up more than 90% of domestic sales. Exports also rose by 10.6% compared to the same period last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.