Foreign Electric Vehicles Overtake Domestic, China Dominates Supply Chain

51.1% of cumulative imported electric vehicles in the third quarter... Tesla and BYD lead sales, with 84.9% of electric passenger car imports concentrated in China… Expansion of production base influence

Imported cars have overtaken domestic cars in the domestic electric passenger car market. The imported electric vehicle market was led by Tesla and China's BYD, and about 85% of the actual import volume was found to be concentrated in China. China appears to be establishing itself as a key base not only for automobile brands but also for the production and supply of electric vehicles.

According to vehicle registration statistics from the Korea Automobile Mobility Industry Association (KAMA), new registrations of domestic electric passenger vehicles from January to September 2026 amounted to 258,284 units. The number of imported cars was 131,869 (51.1%), exceeding the number of domestic cars at 126,415 (48.9%).

In the imported electric vehicle market, sales concentration of Tesla and BYD was high. According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA), new registrations of imported pure electric vehicles during the same period were 132,582 units. Tesla 89,148 units and BYD 19,326 units accounted for 81.8% of the total.

By model, Tesla Model Y led sales with 73,123 units, while Model 3 registered 11,906 units. BYD recorded 8,198 Dolphins and 7,109 Sea Lion 7 units. The combined registration of the four models amounted to 100,336 units, accounting for 75.7% of all imported pure electric vehicles.

What is noteworthy is the China-centered supply structure of imported electric vehicles. According to KAMA automobile trade statistics, the number of new electric passenger vehicles imported into Korea from January to September 2026 was 140,550. Among these, 119,268 units (84.9%) came from China, followed by 14,620 units (10.4%) from Germany and 4,378 units (3.1%) from the United States.

Tesla, an American brand, produces a significant amount of its flagship domestic models, Model Y and Model 3, at its factory in Shanghai, China. With the expansion of Chinese brand BYD's domestic sales and the addition of Tesla's Chinese-produced vehicles, China is establishing itself as a key supply base for the Korean imported electric vehicle market.