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UK becomes biggest EU market for Korean car brands

The UK is now the largest new car market in the EU for Korean car brands, with some 190,215 vehicles registered in 2017.

The new Kia Sportage introduces a range of enhancements

Kia, Hyundai and SsangYong models accounted for 7.5% of new car registrations in 2017 – up from 2.5% a decade ago

The figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) – highlighted during its trade mission to Korea – shows that Kia, Hyundai and SsangYong models accounted for around one in 13 (7.5%) of new car registrations in 2017 – up from 2.5% a decade ago.

Meanwhile, Korea is now Britain’s third largest Asian car export market after China and Japan.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “The UK’s automotive relationship with Korea goes back many years and today the motor trade between our two countries goes from strength-to-strength. Britain is one of the most important global markets for Korean manufacturers, and vice-versa, with consumers in both countries benefiting from a huge choice of cutting-edge models.”

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.