Eco-Friendly Cars Account for Half of South Korea's New Car Registrations in H1

South Korea's automotive market witnessed a historic shift in the first half of this year, as official data revealed that eco-friendly vehicles accounted for more than half of all new car registrations in the country. According to the data research center CarIsYou, which relied on government figures, the share of these vehicles reached 50.4% of total newly registered cars, an unprecedented achievement in the Korean market.

Surge in Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Registrations

The data showed that total registrations of eco-friendly cars during the first six months of the year reached 429,163 units, out of 851,833 newly registered cars overall. This category includes battery electric vehicles, gasoline hybrid cars, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. This marks the first time that the share of eco-friendly vehicles has exceeded the 50% threshold during the January-to-June period.

Accelerated Growth Over Recent Years

This significant increase reflects a rapid growth trajectory for eco-friendly cars in South Korea, as their market share rose from just 9.1% in 2020 to 25.5% in 2023, then jumped to 38.5% in 2025, before reaching the current level. In contrast, the share of conventional gasoline-powered cars fell to 39% in the first half, dropping below 40% for the first time since 2016, when it stood at 39.9%.

Electric Vehicles Lead the Green Wave

Electric cars were the main driver of this major shift, with their registrations soaring by 112.6% compared to the previous year, reaching 198,969 units in the first half. This strong growth made electric vehicles the only powertrain category to post a positive year-on-year increase. Industry sources attributed this success to a broad lineup of new models launched in the market, along with the early disbursement of government subsidies designed to support electric vehicle purchases. An industry official stated that these factors helped establish eco-friendly cars as the dominant choice in South Korea's domestic automotive market.