South Korea’s new-energy vehicle market proved more resilient than the broader automotive sector in September, even as domestic sales and export values weakened. NEVs therefore represented roughly 59% of domestic sales, up from about 53% a year earlier.
Exports showed a sharper contrast.
The September figures reflected different conditions across the market. Domestic sales were affected by three fewer average business days after the Chuseok holiday shifted from October in 2025 to September in 2026, deferred purchases ahead of new model launches and depleted electric-vehicle subsidies.
The increase followed the resolution of wage negotiations at major automakers, which helped recover earlier production shortfalls, and benefited from a comparison with strikes at some manufacturers a year earlier.
HEVs consequently expanded their share of NEV exports from about 62% to 68%, while BEVs edged down from around 31% to 30%.
Export performance also varied by destination and vehicle category.
The figures point to a widening distinction between Korea’s domestic and export NEV markets: BEVs supplied more of the domestic expansion, while hybrids generated most export growth. Future results will be shaped by subsidy availability, new model launches, policy and demand conditions in North America and Europe, tariffs in major markets and automakers’ plans to expand production overseas.