À̹ÌÁö È®´ë The number of registered cars in South Korea reached 23.44 million units as of June, adding 1 percent from six months ago with growth in import brands and cleaner fuel, data showed Monday.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Monday, a total of 23,444,165 cars were registered in the country as of June, meaning a car for every 2.2 South Korean head.
The transport ministry said that overall growth in the number of registered cars has slowed down in the past year in line with slow-motion economy. It may pick up on migration to connected and cleaner fuel vehicles.
The number of cars on Korean roads increased 3.7 percent on year in 2014, 4.3 percent in 2015, 3.9 percent in 2016, and 3.3 percent in 2017.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë Of total vehicles, domestic brand cars accounted for a lion¡¯s share of 90.3 percent with 21.17 million units as of June, and foreign brand cars 9.7 percent, or 2.28 million units. The market share held by import vehicles added 0.8 percentage points this year from 8.9 percent last year.
The transport ministry said that import vehicles have steadily increased its share in Korea in recent years – from just over 1 percent in 2004 to 2.1 percent in 2008, 3.4 percent in 2011, 4 percent in 2012, 5.5 percent in 2014, 6.6 percent in 2015, 7.5 percent in 2016, 8.4 percent in 2017, and 9.4 percent in 2018.
Environmentally-friendly vehicles including hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-powered cars totaled 530,455 units as of June, taking up 2.3 percent share of the total, up from 1.7 percent last year.
À̹ÌÁö È®´ë The number of registered electric cars, in particular, doubled to 72,814 units over the past year amid the government¡¯s efforts to expand supply of environmentally-friendly vehicles to reduce air pollution and growing interest on high-efficient cars. Hydrogen-powered vehicles totaled 2,353 units, more than six times from a year ago, and hybrid cars 455,288 units, up 1.3 percent over the cited period.
Data showed that the number of owners with two registered vehicles including an electric vehicle more than doubled from last year to 22,177 units this year. Second-hand electric cars have been actively traded in the market, the ministry said.
An unnamed official from the transport ministry projected that vehicle purchase pattern is widely expected to change over time as consumers up interest in environmental trends and efficiency. The official added that the government will put out efforts to introduce related policies that meet market trends and changes.
By Lee Eun-joo
[¨Ï Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]