- Honda is leaving South Korea at the end of the year.
- Automaker sold less than 2,000 units there in 2025.
- Motorcycle sales will continue, despite automotive exit.
A number of foreign automakers have struggled in South Korea, but Honda is calling it quits after more than two decades. Automotive sales will stop at the end of the year, but the company will continue selling motorcycles.
Honda began selling vehicles in South Korea in 2004 and customers could get a handful of models including the Accord and CR-V. However, they didn’t generate much interest as Reuters reported the company sold less than 2,000 vehicles in the country last year.
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That’s barely a blip on the automotive radar as Honda sold 13,612 Accords in the United States in March alone. Given the low sales, Honda apparently decided they had enough.
However, the automaker blamed the withdraw on “changes in the environment surrounding the global and South Korean automobile markets.” They added the move was made after a “thorough consideration from the perspective of concentrating corporate resources to strengthen its mid- to long-term competitiveness.”
The news will likely upset owners, but Honda promised to provide after-sales support such as parts, servicing, maintenance, and warranty work. This means customers aren’t completely out of luck, at least for the immediate future.
According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association, a mere 84 Hondas were registered in South Korea last month. That’s not many, but the company beat Cadillac (75), Chevrolet (6), Ford (35), Lincoln (20), and Peugeot (72).
While a number of brands have a tiny presence in South Korea, some are far more successful than others. 11,130 Teslas were registered in March, while 6,785 BMWs found a new home. Mercedes wasn’t too far behind at 5,419.
