Korean Media: Sales of BYD Plug-in Hybrid SUV Surge 777.2%, Crowned Market Leader in South Korea!

On October 16, Korean media outlet NEWSIS reported that following its success in the pure electric vehicle market, Chinese EV manufacturer BYD is rapidly expanding its footprint in the plug-in hybrid segment.

The mid-size SUV, Song 6 DM-i, which began full-scale delivery in August, has surged to the top of the import plug-in hybrid vehicle sales rankings in South Korea. BYD is leveraging its high cost-performance advantage to steadily increase its market share in the hybrid vehicle sector.

According to data released by the Korea Automobile Importers Association, a total of 500 new Song 6 DM-i plug-in hybrid vehicles were registered in South Korea in August—up from just 57 units in July—a month-on-month increase of 777.2%.

The Song 6 DM-i also claimed first place among imported plug-in hybrid vehicles in August, with sales more than four times that of the second-ranked BMW X5 50e (121 units).

The Toyota RAV4 PHEV recorded 96 units for third place, followed by the BMW 530e with 76 units and the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid with 65 units.

Notably, the Song 6 DM-i single model has seen a significant rise in market share within the imported plug-in hybrid category.

In July, the Song 6 DM-i accounted for only 5.3% of the total 1,073 registered imported plug-in hybrids.

By August, its sales jumped to 500 units, representing nearly one-third of the total 1,334 registered imported plug-in hybrids—equivalent to a market share of 37.5%. This means approximately four out of every ten imported plug-in hybrid vehicles sold in August were Song 6 DM-i models.

As sales of the Song 6 DM-i have risen, the overall size of the imported plug-in hybrid market in South Korea has expanded as well.

A total of 1,334 imported plug-in hybrid vehicles were registered in August, marking a 33.8% year-on-year increase from 997 units in the same period last year, and a 24.3% rise compared to 1,073 units in July.

Of this growth, the Song 6 DM-i alone contributed 443 additional units—exceeding the overall market’s increase of 261 units during the same period.

In fact, the launch of the Song 6 DM-i has driven expansion of the entire market segment.

The surge in sales can be attributed primarily to the commencement of full vehicle deliveries. BYD Korea unveiled the Song 6 DM-i at the Busan International Mobility Expo in June this year and began taking pre-orders.

BYD’s share in the South Korean import car market rose from 1.35% last year to 10.07% this year, placing the brand fourth in sales volume—behind Tesla, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

A South Korean industry insider noted: “BYD continues to strengthen its presence in the South Korean EV market through models such as the Dolphin and Song 7, while simultaneously accelerating its market expansion by adding plug-in hybrid offerings to its product lineup. The influence of Chinese-made electric vehicles is now extending beyond the pure electric segment into the plug-in hybrid domain.”

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1879169135256576/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.