Chinese electric cars gain ground in South Korea, not Japan
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on TimesLIVE
Illustrative image · Pedro H · Licence PexelsChinese electric carmakers are winning customers in South Korea, where about a quarter of new cars sold this year are electric, but are struggling to gain a foothold in Japan, where the share is 3%. BYD is attracting buyers in particular with affordable vehicles available sooner than some rival models, according to TimesLIVE.
BYD sold more than 20,000 vehicles in South Korea in the first nine months of 2026, exceeding Toyota and Lexus’s combined sales, according to market research firm Carisyou. The Chinese carmaker is benefiting from demand for affordable electric cars, Reuters reported.
About a quarter of new cars sold in South Korea this year were electric, compared with 3% in Japan, according to industry data cited by Reuters. In South Korea, Kim Min-seon bought a BYD Dolphin in July for about $18,500. She had first considered Hyundai’s electric Casper, but the stated delivery time was more than two years.
A nearly 10% rise in petrol prices since the start of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran has also boosted interest in electric vehicles in South Korea, according to Lee Jae-il, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities. Hyundai and Kia mainly offer premium electric models, with only a few priced below $30,000.
Chinese sales remain more modest in Japan, where electric vehicles accounted for just 3% of new car sales this year. BYD and other Chinese manufacturers are seeking to establish themselves in both countries, where domestic brands are well established. Executives and analysts interviewed by Reuters said they were investing in their dealer networks and gradually adapting their cars to local tastes.
