EV Sales Surge Nearly 50% in South Korea Amid New Model Launches

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in South Korea soared nearly 50% year-on-year during the first eight months of 2025, fueled by the introduction of new models.According to data released by the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, a total of 142,456 EVs were sold between January and August, a sharp increase from 95,988 units during the same period last year.

Electric vehicles made up 12.7% of all new car registrations, up from 8.9% a year earlier a rise of 3.8 percentage points.

Domestic manufacturers led the charge, with sales of locally produced EVs climbing 48.2% to 86,777 units, accounting for 60.9% of the total EV market.Imported EVs also posted strong growth, with sales jumping 48.6% to 55,679 units. Notably, over 42,000 of those imported vehicles were made in China, underscoring the growing influence of Chinese automakers in the South Korean market.