South Korean vehicle exports rise 9% in August

Core Insights - The value of built-up vehicle exports from South Korea increased by 8.6% year-on-year to US$ 5.5 billion in August 2025, driven by strong demand for electrified vehicles, particularly in key European markets [1] Export Performance - Exports to North America decreased by 8.3% to US$ 2.55 billion, with a 15% drop in shipments to the US, totaling US$ 2.1 billion, influenced by the ramp-up of production at Hyundai's new assembly plant in Savannah, Georgia [2] - A significant 54% increase in exports to the European Union was noted, reaching US$ 792 million, with shipments to Germany and the Netherlands more than doubling, and exports to the UK rising by 116% to US$ 250 million [3] - Exports to Asia grew by over 9% to US$ 591 million, while shipments to the Middle East reached US$ 369 million (+10%) and to Oceania US$ 344 million (+20%) [3] Volume and Vehicle Types - Total vehicle exports by volume rose by 5.5% to 200,317 units, with Hyundai Motor Group's brands and General Motors Korea contributing significantly to the shipments [4] - Shipments of electrified vehicles, primarily battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids, surged by nearly 27% to 69,000 units [4] - For the first eight months of 2025, the total value of new vehicles exported from South Korea amounted to US$ 47.7 billion [4]