South Korea and Turkey report falling May auto sales

In South Korea, the domestic auto market continued its contraction in May, with the five biggest manufacturers recording a combined 4.0% year‑on‑year decline to 664,370 units. Domestic sales fell sharply by 14.3% to 97,110 vehicles, while overseas sales slipped 2.0% to 567,260 units. Kia was the only brand to post a global increase, selling 277,715 vehicles and gaining 2.7% overall; Hyundai, GM Korea, Renault Korea and KG Mobility all posted declines.

Turkey’s automotive market also contracted sharply in May, with total car sales dropping 23.19% to 65,386 units and light‑commercial vehicle sales falling 20.13% to 18,056 units. The leading brands were Renault with 10,926 units, Volkswagen with 7,374, Fiat with 6,310, Peugeot with 5,616 and Hyundai with 5,485. The data reflect a broader slowdown in vehicle demand across both markets during the month.