Core Insights - Domestic vehicle sales in South Korea increased by 5% to 111,523 units in August 2025 compared to 106,149 units a year earlier, with the five main automakers showing varied performance [6] - Hyundai's global sales rose by 0.4% to 336,395 vehicles in August 2025, with a total of 2,738,841 vehicles sold globally in the first eight months, slightly higher than the previous year [2] - Kia's global sales increased by 1.7% to 2,104,293 units in the first eight months of the year, supported by new battery electric vehicles and strong demand for core SUV models [9] - GM Korea's global sales rose by 35% to 21,059 units in August, although year-to-date deliveries were down by 2% [13] - Renault Korea's domestic sales surged by 156% to 35,933 units in the first eight months, driven by the launch of new models, despite a 24% drop in global sales in August [21] Domestic Sales Performance - Domestic sales rose by 0.4% to 58,330 units in August from 58,087 units a year earlier, leading to a 2.1% increase in the first eight months to 469,457 units [1] - The five main domestic manufacturers reported a 2.5% increase in domestic sales to 910,878 units in the first eight months [4] - Hyundai's domestic sales increased by 2.1% to 469,457 units, while Kia's sales rose slightly to 368,102 units [4] Overseas Sales Trends - Overseas sales for Hyundai increased by 0.5% to 336,395 units in August, but year-to-date volumes decreased slightly to 2,269,384 units [1] - Kia's overseas sales fell slightly to 209,887 units in August, but year-to-date sales increased by almost 2% to 1,736,191 units [11] - GM Korea's exports surged by almost 42% to 19,852 units in August, although year-to-date exports were only slightly higher [15] Market Conditions and Economic Factors - The domestic vehicle market is supported by new product rollouts from major automakers, but overall demand remains sluggish due to high household debt and weak consumer sentiment [5] - South Korea's GDP expanded by 0.6% in the second quarter, following a contraction in the first quarter, aided by interest rate cuts [5] Future Outlook and Strategic Initiatives - Hyundai aims for global vehicle sales of 4,174,000 in 2025, including 710,000 domestic sales and 3,464,000 overseas sales, with a planned investment increase in the US to $26 billion [8] - Kia targets a 4% increase in global sales to 3,216,200 units in 2025, supported by new model launches [12] - KG Mobility plans to expand its zero-emissions vehicle range and has entered a strategic partnership with Chery Automobile for technology sharing [19]