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Chinese EV makers gain traction in South Korea’s import car market despite uphill battle
While not a high-volume market, success in South Korea helps ‘prove the quality and competitiveness’ of Chinese EVs, analyst says
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Yulu Aoin Seoul, South KoreaPublished: 1:00pm, 30 Jun 2026
This article was first published by The Korea Times in a partnership with the South China Morning Post.
When Choi, a 35-year-old office worker in South Korea, started looking for her next car, she did not expect Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand BYD to make her shortlist.
“I’ve wanted an electric vehicle, but domestic models are just too expensive,” Choi said, adding that rising fuel prices first sparked her interest in EVs.
Her attention turned to Chinese brands after reading about China’s rapid adoption of EVs and how it helped cushion the country from recent oil-price shocks linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
“I still have some biases against Chinese products, but with so many people driving them in China, I figured they can’t just be cheap junk,” she said. “They’ve probably spent years developing the technology and gone through plenty of trial and error.”
Choi’s case reflects a shift under way as Chinese EV makers step up their presence and gain traction in Korea, one of the world’s most competitive automotive markets.
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