South Korea’s auto exports hit a new high in August, climbing 8.6 percent from last year despite tough US tariffs. The boost came mainly from strong demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe, according to fresh data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Last month, the value of car exports reached a record $5.5 billion—the best August ever for South Korea’s auto industry. In terms of numbers, shipments rose 5.5 percent to 200,317 vehicles. From January to August, total auto exports soared to an all-time peak of $47.7 billion, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
Demand for Korean cars grew across most regions, except North America, where 25 percent tariffs from the US under President Donald Trump hurt sales. Exports to the European Union jumped a massive 54 percent to $792 million. Shipments to Germany skyrocketed 118.7 percent, while those to the Netherlands surged 110.3 percent.
Things looked bright elsewhere too. Exports to Britain leaped 115.7 percent to $250 million, and to Turkey, they spiked 96.1 percent to $100 million. In Asia, shipments increased 9.3 percent to $591 million, the Middle East saw a 9.8 percent rise to $369 million, and Oceania jumped 20.1 percent to $344 million.
On the flip side, North American exports dropped 8.3 percent to $2.55 billion, with US shipments falling 15.2 percent to $2.1 billion due to the tariffs.
Eco-friendly cars stole the show, with exports of EVs, hybrids, and hydrogen vehicles growing 26.6 percent to 69,000 units. EV exports alone exploded 78.4 percent to 23,000 vehicles, fueled by global hits like Kia’s EV3 and Hyundai’s Casper Electric (known as Inster abroad).
Back home, car sales in South Korea rose 8.3 percent to 139,000 units—the seventh straight month of gains. Eco-friendly vehicles made up over half of all sales, up 36.1 percent from last year. Overall, domestic car production climbed 7.1 percent to 321,000 units, driven by both exports and local demand.
This surge highlights South Korea’s growing edge in the global electric vehicle market, even as trade challenges persist.
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