South Korea report: domestic vehicle market up 10% in January

Group 1: Hyundai Sales Projections - Hyundai, including its Genesis brand, aims for a slight increase in global sales to 4.158 million units by 2026, with 700,000 domestic sales and 3.46 million units overseas [1] - Sales in North America are projected to rise to 1,231,000 units, while European sales are expected to remain flat at 601,000 units [1] - The company anticipates continued product mix improvement and new model launches to counteract rising competition and economic uncertainties [1] Group 2: January Sales Performance - Hyundai's global sales decreased by 1.0% to 307,699 vehicles in January 2026 compared to 310,962 a year earlier, with domestic sales rising by 9% to 50,208 units [2] - Domestic sales by South Korea's five main automakers increased by 10% to 99,790 units in January 2026 from 90,702 units a year earlier [7] - Kia reported a 2.4% rise in global sales to 245,557 vehicles in January 2026, driven by a 12% increase in domestic sales [8] Group 3: Economic Context - The South Korean economy contracted by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2025, reversing a previous expansion, influenced by weaker investment and exports [5] - The market remains sluggish despite more working days and new model rollouts, with Hyundai expecting a moderate sales decline for the full year [6] Group 4: Competitor Performance - GM Korea's global sales surged by 41% to 44,703 units in January 2026, primarily due to a significant increase in overseas sales [11] - Renault Korea's global sales fell by 2.2% to 3,732 units in January 2026, with domestic sales declining by 14% [16] - KG Mobility (KGM) reported a nearly 10% rise in global sales to 8,836 vehicles in January 2026, reflecting a sharp increase in domestic sales [14]