BYD is poised to become the fastest imported brand to reach 10,000 cumulative sales in Korea.
The automaker could pass the 10,000 mark as soon as this month — just 12 months after it began selling vehicles in Korea last April.
For context, BMW Korea, which entered the market in 1995, took seven years to surpass 10,000 cumulative sales in 2002. Mercedes-Benz’s local unit, established in 2003, reached the milestone in three years. Tesla, which launched sales in Korea in 2017, hit 10,000 cumulative sales by 2020 — four years after its debut.
According to the Korea Imported Automobile Association, BYD Korea had sold 8,411 units through last month.
That total covers an 11-month period from April through last month. BYD Korea’s sales momentum picked up in November, when monthly volumes topped 1,000 units, and have stayed strong since. Despite fewer selling days during the Lunar New Year holiday, the company recorded 957 units last month, leaving roughly 1,600 units to reach 10,000.
Following the compact SUV Atto 3 and the midsize Sea Lion 7, the compact hatchback Dolphin joined the lineup this month, helping accelerate growth.
BYD Korea says the Dolphin, which launched last month, began with an initial shipment of several hundred units and has been arriving in larger volumes this month.
BYD’s three-pronged lineup in Korea — the family-focused Sea Lion 7 that targets Tesla Model Y buyers, the Atto 3 that carved out market share with competitive value and sleek styling, and the budget-friendly Dolphin — is gaining traction.
Expanding its service network to build customer confidence has also supported the sales push. BYD Korea launched with 11 service outlets at its domestic debut last year, increased to 17 as of this month, and plans to operate 26 by year-end.
An industry source said, “BYD has directly challenged skepticism about Chinese EVs through technical capability and value, and is expected to surpass 10,000 cumulative sales in a short period.”
By Ham Bong-gyun hbkone@etnews.com
