[DiaryPoint | Reporter Eom Ju-yong] Tesla registered 9,165 new passenger cars in South Korea in October, holding on to its lead among imported brands. That was a 110.7% increase from the same month last year and marked its ninth consecutive month in first place. Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared an image combining South Korea’s flag with the company’s “T” logo in response to the news.
On the 5th local time, Musk posted “Tesla Korea” on X and reposted another user’s post saying Tesla had taken the top spot in the South Korean market. The post included an image with the Tesla logo set inside the taegeuk, the central symbol on South Korea’s flag. It highlighted the company’s October registrations and its run of monthly wins.
According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, Tesla accounted for 29.5% of the 31,117 imported passenger cars registered in October. Mercedes-Benz followed with 6,744, and BMW with 5,633. Tesla’s registrations were down 3,207 from 12,372 in September, a month-over-month decline of 25.9%.
Model Y Premium leads imported models with 5,501 registrations
By model, the Model Y Premium ranked first with 5,501 registrations. The Model 3 placed third with 2,199, while the Mercedes-Benz E 200 took second with 2,836. The Model Y Premium accounted for a substantial share of Tesla’s registrations.
Tesla’s South Korean online order page lists the Model Y Premium RWD at 49.99 million won. The Model Y Premium Long Range AWD is priced at 66.99 million won, and the six-seat Model Y L at 72.99 million won. The Model 3 starts at 46.99 million won for the RWD, with the Premium Long Range RWD at 59.99 million won and the Performance AWD at 69.99 million won.
Electric vehicle buyers in South Korea should also check whether national or local government purchase subsidies apply, as eligibility and amounts depend on the vehicle and the buyer’s area of residence, among other conditions. Before ordering, buyers should consult the official Clean Vehicle Integrated Information Portal for model- and region-specific notices. Tesla’s South Korean order page also shows prices and order terms by trim and available inventory.
New registrations of all imported cars in October rose 29.3% from a year earlier, but fell from September. Yoon-young Jeong, vice chairman of the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, said the month-over-month decline was affected in part by lower electric vehicle sales at some brands and limited supply.