South Korea’s five major automakers are set to sell fewer than 100,000 mini cars for a second straight year in 2025, as new models remain scarce and consumer preferences shift toward small SUVs.
From January to October, Hyundai, Kia, GM Korea, Renault Korea, and KG Mobility sold a total of 60,004 mini cars, down 27.3 percent from 82,485 units a year earlier. If the trend continues, annual sales could fall to around 70,000 units, a record low.
GM Korea ended production of its Chevrolet Spark last year, pushing total mini car sales below 100,000 units for the first time. Current domestic offerings include Hyundai’s Casper and Kia’s Ray and Morning.
The decline is attributed to a lack of new models, delays in upcoming launches, and growing interest in small SUVs for outdoor leisure activities like camping and fishing. “Mini car sales are expected to remain sluggish as no new models are scheduled for release for the time being,” an industry official said.
Despite weak new-car demand, mini cars remain popular in the used-car market. In third-quarter rankings, Kia’s Morning led used sales, followed by GM’s Spark and Kia’s Ray, according to Carisyou.