1
P P r r e e s s s s R R e e l l e e a a s s e e
Ministry of Knowledge Economy
March 15, 2012
MKE Releases Car Sales Figures for February
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy has released its car sales figures for February. Korea’s car production jumped 41.8 percent year on year to 421,789 vehicles thanks to strong exports and more working days. Despite weak consumer confidence and rising fuel prices, domestic sales gained 5.5 percent to 113,565 vehicles. Strong sales of Japanese brands led imported car sales to rise 35.8 percent to 9,196 vehicles. Exports surged 51.2 percent to 299,053 vehicles, the result of greater brand awareness.
February 2012
Month-on-Month Growth
Year-on-Year Growth
First Two Months No. of vehicles
produced 421,789 26.7% 41.8% 754,758
(10.2%) No. of vehicles
sold on the domestic market
122,761 15.4% 7.2% 229,131
(- 6.2%) Domestic
cars 113,565 17.2% 5.5% 210,494
(- 8.0%) Imported
cars 9,196 - 2.6% 35.8% 18,637
(20.8%) No. of vehicles
exported 299,053 21.4% 51.2% 545,362
(21.4%) - Year-on-year growth rates shown in parentheses
- Sources: Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association
2
Production of Domestic Vehicles for February
No. of CarsProduced
No. of Cars Produced in
First Two Months
Month-on-
Month Growth Year-on-Year Growth
Hyundai 176,904 309,372
(41.9%) 33.5% 64.8%
Kia 151,808 275,128
(36.0%) 23.1% 37.3%
GM Korea 65,203 116,043
(15.5%) 28.3% 25.5%
Renault
Samsung 17,961 35,645
(4.3%) 1.6% - 5.5%
Ssangyong 9,172 17,224
(2.2%) 13.9% 18.1%
Other 741 1,346
(0.1%) 22.5% 3.8%
Total sales 421,789 754,758
(100%) 26.7% 41.8%
- Percentage of total production shown in parentheses - Source: Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association
Exports of Domestic Vehicles for February
No. of CarsExported
No. of Cars Exported in First Two
Months
Month-on- Month Growth
Year-on-Year Growth Hyundai 115,890 205,207
(38.8%) 29.8% 68.1%
Kia 112,128 201,641
(37.5%) 25.3% 59.7%
GM Korea 53,860 107,472
(18.0%) 0.5% 19.0%
Renault
Samsung 11,129 19,362
(3.7%) 35.2% 23.9%
Ssangyong 5,755 11,184
(1.9%) 6.0% 35.7%
Other 291 496
(0.1%) 42.0% 22.3%
Total sales 299,053 545,362
(100%) 21.4% 51.2%
- Percentage of total production shown in parentheses - Source: Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association
3
Sales of Domestic and Imported Cars
No. of CarsSold
Percentage of Total Sales
Month-on- Month Growth
Year-on-Year Growth
Total 122,761 100% 15.4% 7.2%
Domestic
Cars 113,565 92.5% 17.2% 5.5%
Hyundai 53,647 43.7% 18.7% 8.6%
Kia 40,012 32.6% 17.0% 2.5%
GM Korea 10,277 8.4% 27.8% 34.7%
Renault
Samsung 5,858 4.8% - 5.6% - 30.5%
Ssangyong 3,111 2.5% 10.9% 27.5%
Imported
Cars 9,196 7.5% - 2.6% 35.8%
BMW 1,757 1.4% - 25.1% 36.5%
Mercedes-
Benz 1,312 1.1% - 1.4% 6.8%
Volkswagen 1,254 1.0% 12.1% 52.2%
Toyota 1,047 0.9% 31.9% 206.1%
Audi 1,010 0.8% - 12.0% 48.7%
Mini 525 0.4% 112.6% 210.7%
Honda 476 0.4% 34.8% 49.2%
Chrysler 301 0.2% - 18.2% 140.8%
Lexus 246 0.2% - 16.3% - 50.3%
Ford 230 0.2% - 37.7% - 11.9%
- Sources: Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association
