Tesla Leads Korea Import Brands for 9 Straight Months

Tesla Korea said Friday that Tesla finished first among South Korea’s imported-car brands for a ninth consecutive month, citing Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association new-registration statistics covering February through October 2026.

The official account thanked owners for their continued trust and posted a silver Model Y graphic stamped with a giant “No.1,” making clear the claim is brand sales among imports, not the overall domestic market.

That extends the import-brand run tracked through September, when Tesla Korea had already logged eight straight months atop the import board while also claiming the Model Y as Korea’s overall best-selling car for a third month.

This latest post does not repeat that overall-market claim for October. It sticks to the import-brand streak and KAIDA’s February-to-October registration window.

The Korea Times, citing KAIDA, reported that Tesla logged 9,165 new registrations in October, more than double the 4,350 units a year earlier, and stayed ahead of every rival import brand for a ninth month since February. Monthly volume still fell 25.9 percent from September, with KAIDA pointing to supply shortages.

Among imported models, KAIDA put the Tesla Model Y Premium first for October, followed by the Mercedes-Benz E 200 and the Tesla Model 3, according to The Korea Times. Total imported passenger-car registrations rose 29.3 percent year over year to 31,117 units.

Businesskorea, also citing KAIDA, put Tesla’s January-through-October cumulative registrations at 98,313 units, more than double the year-earlier pace and close enough that a 100,000-unit year is now within reach if November holds up.

November will show whether Tesla can stretch the nine-month import lead further, or whether the German brands close more of the gap after October’s softer Tesla total.