Eco-friendly vehicles lead July export gains
The ministry linked the July export increase to more operating days and continued overseas demand for eco-friendly vehicles and SUVs. Major automakers shifted summer vacation schedules from July in 2025 to August in 2026. That change increased the number of working days during the month. Higher production followed the same calendar effect, with output rising 11.3% year on year to 352,000 vehicles. June production had reached 394,000 vehicles, an increase of 11.6% from a year earlier.
South Korea’s domestic auto market posted a smaller increase than exports and production. Vehicle sales rose 0.5% from July 2025 to 139,000 units. Eco-friendly vehicles accounted for 84,000 domestic sales, or about 60% of the market. Electric vehicle sales increased 47.5% to 36,000 units. Eco-friendly models therefore represented about three of every five vehicles sold domestically during July. Total domestic vehicle sales remained close to their level in the same month a year earlier.
North America and Europe post strong increases
The auto results formed part of a broader increase in South Korean exports during July. Total goods exports reached US$98.89 billion, the second-highest monthly value on record and up 62.8% from a year earlier. Automobiles c
