BYD surges to No. 4 in Korea's imported car market

What happened: BYD rose to fourth place in South Korea's imported passenger car market in the first nine months of the year, less than two years after entering the market in January 2025. Key numbers: 20,137 vehicles sold January to September, versus 6,107 in all of 2025. Imported market share rose from 2 percent to 7.2 percent. Why it matters: BYD kept growing even after its vehicles were excluded from government EV subsidies in July, offsetting the loss with financing incentives and pricing. More Chinese brands, including Zeekr, Xpeng and Chery, are preparing to enter the market.

BYD rose to fourth place in South Korea's imported passenger car market in the first nine months of the year, less than two years after entering the market in January 2025.

BYD kept growing even after its vehicles were excluded from government EV subsidies in July, offsetting the loss with financing incentives and pricing. More Chinese brands, including Zeekr, Xpeng and Chery, are preparing to enter the market.