Genesis GV80 Breaks Sales Record, Solidifying Its Position in South Korea’s Luxury SUV Market

Genesis’ semi-large Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) GV80 has set the highest sales record in South Korea this year. The recent facelift and coupe models, introduced to strengthen product competitiveness, are analyzed as the background for the increased sales performance.

From January to November this year, the Genesis GV80 sold 36,810 units in the South Korean market, making it the best-selling model since its launch in January 2020. The previous best-selling model was 34,217 units in 2020.

Among imported vehicles, the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, which are in the same class as the GV80, had cumulative sales of 5,660 and 4,300 units this year, respectively.

The GV80 has seen increased sales since its partial change launch in October 2023. The GV80 Coupe, released in late 2023 and began shipping in January 2024, sold 2,951 units in 2024, contributing to its performance.

The GV80’s facelift model emphasized its premium image by applying a double-line diamond pattern to the front radiator grille and adding a 27-inch large organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display to the interior to improve visibility.

If Genesis introduces a hybrid model in the future, demand for SUVs such as the GV80 is expected to increase.

Genesis is developing related systems to add hybrid models to its entire lineup, responding to the electric vehicle chasm (temporary stagnation in demand).