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South Korea Auto Exports Hit Record for June as Hybrids and EVs Drive Gains

The government says the jump reflects recovering demand but warns labor disputes, rising Chinese competition and rapid AI-driven factory change could squeeze future growth.

Overview

  • The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said Wednesday that June auto export value rose 5.8% year on year to about $6.7–6.8 billion, the highest amount recorded for any June.
  • Eco-friendly vehicles propelled the rise with export value up 31.3% to $2.9 billion, accounting for roughly 43% of June shipments and exceeding 100,000 units for the first time in a month.
  • Hybrid exports led the eco-friendly surge with volumes up 48.7% to 72,878 units while battery-electric shipments grew 24.4% to 27,823 units and plug-in hybrid shipments fell sharply.
  • June production, domestic sales and export volume all climbed with output at 394,210 vehicles, domestic sales at 159,725 units and export volume at 268,169 vehicles.
  • Officials cautioned that the six-month picture remains weaker with H1 export value down about 1.1%, manufacturers showed uneven performance, and the sector faces risks from labor-management tensions, stronger Chinese rivals and fast-moving AI changes in manufacturing.