Honda Calls It Quits In South Korea After Selling Just 84 Cars Last Month

Several 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.

When Honda started selling cars in South Korea in 2004, a few models, such as the Accord and CR-V, were available to buyers. However, according to Reuters, the company sold fewer than 2,000 cars in the nation last year, so they didn’t attract much attention.

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.

The carmaker, however, attributed the pullout to “changes in the climate around the global and South Korean automobile markets”. The action was taken following “a careful review from the perspective of focusing corporate resources to boost its mid- to long-term competitiveness”, they continued.

The news will likely upset owners, but Honda has promised to provide after-sales support, including 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 several 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.

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