Korea’s import market shifts focus

As imported automobiles become increasingly commonplace in Korea, the market is shifting towards smaller, cheaper vehicles.

According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association, vehicles equipped with between 2- and 3-liter engines account for 43.3 percent of the market for the first five months of the year.

In comparison, such vehicles took up 35.8 percent of the market in 2008 and 38.4 percent in 2009.

As the volume of such vehicles sold increase, mid-sized vehicles are also dominating the top 10 bestseller list.

For the first five months of the year, eight of the top 10 bestsellers were those with engine capacities between 2 and 3 liters with the Mercedes-Benz E300topping the list.

In both 2009 and 2008, only six such vehicles made it into the top 10 list. 

The Mercedes Benz E300 (top) and the Toyota Camry, the two bestselling imported cars for the first five months of the year.