After killing off three electric models and canceling its Afeela project with Sony as part of its revised electrification strategy, Honda has now announced that it will stop selling automobiles in South Korea at the end of 2026. The Japanese carmaker began automotive sales in the market in May 2004.
“In light of changes in the environment surrounding the global and South Korean automobile markets, and after thorough consideration from the perspective of concentrating corporate resources to strengthen its mid- to long-term competitiveness, Honda decided to discontinue its automobile sales operations in South Korea,” reads the company statement.
After-sales support for existing Honda owners, however, will continue: “Even after the discontinuation of automobile sales, Honda will continue to provide after-sales services, including vehicle servicing and maintenance, parts supply, and warranty support, to customers of Honda vehicles in the South Korean market.”
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The car sales chart in South Korea is topped by homegrown brands Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis; BMW, meanwhile, is the best-selling foreign brand. Other major Japanese carmakers have pulled out of the market, with Nissan being the latest in 2020. After Honda’s departure, only Toyota will remain as the sole Japanese manufacturer selling passenger cars.
Reuters reports that Honda sold under 2,000 units in South Korea in 2025—a decline of more than 20% compared with the previous year. As of this writing, the automobiles section of the local Honda site is down, but key offerings in the market were the hybrid variants of the Accord and the CR-V. The Odyssey and the Pilot also appear on the brand’s Facebook page. There are no fully electric vehicles in the lineup—a stark contrast to the model lines of its main competitors like Kia’s EV series and Hyundai’s Ioniq range.
Honda’s motorcycle sales activities in the country, which began in May 2002 after the establishment of the local subsidiary in October 2001, will continue beyond 2026. It is actually South Korea’s sales leader in the two-wheeled segment, reflecting its status as the best-selling motorcycle brand in the world.
“While continuing to position its motorcycle business as the core of its operations, Honda Korea will further strengthen its business by continuing to offer compelling products and further enhancing services and experiences for its customers in South Korea,” according to the official release.
