[Consumerwide - HueSoung Jun Reporter / Yohan Bok Reporter] Due to rising oil prices, the domestic new vehicle market is reversing slightly. In August, consumers had a tendency to purchase smaller vehicles, including light, compact, and subcompact types.  In the fuel category, the hybrid type stood out by taking over the light type in market share.

On the 9th, according to Offinet, the sales prices of gasoline and diesel appear to be constantly rising for the last 9 weeks owing to continual climbing of global oil prices. The average sales prices of gasoline in overall domestic areas rose by 5.0 won, which made the oil price 1750 won, compared to a week prior during the first week of Sept. (3rd to 7th) On the account of oil price, new vehicle consumption trends are changing as well in Korea. First of all, the purchase of new vehicles has rapidly decreased.

According to Carisyou datalab, the Ministry of land, transportation, and infrastructure, and Korea imported car association, the record for new vehicle registration was the total of 124466 in Aug, which was a 14.2% decrease compared to a month before, and a 6.9% decrease from the same season last year.

The registration record for the new Korean vehicles was 99895, which was a 19.1% decrease from a month before, and a 6.4% decrease from the same season last year. The registration record for imported new vehicles was 24571, which was a 13% increase from a month before, and 8.9% decrease from the same month last year.

10278 light vehicles were sold during Aug, which was a 3.7% increase from a month before, and a 0.9% increase from the same month last year. It's been analyzed that only light vehicles recorded the increase rate among entire vehicle types compared to a month before and the same month last year, due to a high rise in oil prices.

10376 compact vehicles were sold, which was a 19.1% decrease from a month ago. 28471 subcompact vehicles, 16704 subcompact vehicles, and 15771 full-sized vehicles were sold, which are each a 8.4%, 19.2%, and 16.5% decrease from a month prior. Compared to the same month last year, the sales record of each vehicle moved as follows; compact, 19.5% increase, subcompact, 0.5% increase, sub-fullsize 8.9% increase, midsized 15.3% decrease, full-sized 16.1% decrease

In the fuel category, compared to last month, the sales record of new vehicles of all types has decreased. However, concerning the same season last year, the sales record of hybrid vehicles increased by 40.9%. The market share of the hybrid type was 17.6%, which is a little over the light type (17.4%), during August. Some argue that this trend is on account of fuel saving along with a clean image of the hybrid type. The accumulated sales record of light vehicles between January and August was 217359, which is more than the record for hybrids (198407). We have got to see whether hybrids will lead the accumulated sales record as oil prices continually rise. In the age category, customers in their 50s purchased 22999 new vehicles, which was the top record among all the age groups. The sales records of the rest of the age groups are as follow; customers in their 40s, 19800, in their 30s, 15359, in their 60s, 14320. In the appearance category, 56060 new SUVs were sold during August, leading the purchase record. 35349 sedans, 9266 RVs, 5523 hatchbacks, 368 coupes, 363 Convertibles, 184 wagons were sold.

In the Korean brand new vehicle sales competition during August, Kia took the top by recording 35037. The sales records of the rest of the brands are Hyundai 32920,  Genesis 8290, KG Mobility 3835, Chevrolet 3246, Renault Korea 1637. In the imported brand new vehicle sales competition, Benz won the top by recording 6582 in August. BMW ranked second (6305), Audi third (1551), Volkswagen fourth (1417), Porsche fifth (1112), Lexus sixth (1091), Volvo seventh (1080), Mini eighth (1036). Earlier, Volvo was in fifth, and four brands, including Volvo, sold 10 thousand vehicles in accumulated record this year between January and August; Benz (47382), BMW (50347), Audi (12691), Volvo (19533).

For Japanese brands, centering around hybrids, the overall sales record is increasing due to fuel cost and its clean environmental image. 1091 Lexus were sold in August, ranking 6th, and the accumulated sales record of Lexus between January and August is 9129, which is just under 10 thousand. Toyota recorded 733 in August, ranking 9th, which is a 17.7% increase from a month prior and a 2.5% increase from the same month last year. Honda recorded 105 during August. Concerning a month earlier, there is more, yet, compared to the same season last year, there had been a 67.9% decrease in sales. The accumulated sales record of Honda between January and August is 709, which is less than the sales record of Toyota just in August. (733) Thus, some see Toyota might fall into the case of Nissan. There has got to be a fundamental solution for recovery.