Chinese EVs make inroads in South Korea, one of world’s most competitive auto markets

Electric vehicles (EVs) made in China now account for one in every three new registrations in South Korea, as Tesla’s Shanghai-built models power the surge and Chinese carmakers start to gain traction.The country’s auto manufacturers have further room to expand, analysts said, supported by higher fuel prices linked to the Iran" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="120801" data-entity-type="event">US-Israeli war in Iran and looser restrictions than traditional target markets. Still, tightening subsidy regimes could slow the pace of expansion, they cautioned.Sales of China-made EVs in South Korea soared to 25,000 units in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 286.1 per cent increase from a year earlier, according to data from the Korea Automobile and Mobility Association (Kaida). Over the same period, Korean carmakers sold about 51,000 units, but grew at a much slower pace of 126.1 per cent.