1 Million Cumulative Sales in South Korea: Genesis Sets Another Record
by Oh Hyungil
Published 14 Apr.2026 08:54(KST)
Updated 14 Apr.2026 13:46(KST)
10 Years and 4 Months Since Brand Launch
Genesis has surpassed a cumulative sales milestone of 1 million units in Korea. This achievement comes 10 years and 4 months after the brand was launched in November 2015 as Korea's first premium automobile brand.
On April 14, Genesis announced that, as of the end of March, its cumulative sales reached 1,002,998 vehicles. Genesis entered the domestic premium car market in December 2015 by launching the flagship luxury sedan 'EQ900' as its first independent model. The following year, in 2016, it added the midsize sedan 'G80' to its lineup and sold 44,271 units in Korea.
In 2017, Genesis introduced the compact sports sedan 'G70', followed by the successor to the EQ900, the 'G90', in 2018, completing its full sedan lineup. The brand maintained steady growth by selling more than 50,000 units annually on average through 2019. In January 2020, Genesis launched its first SUV, the 'GV80', then introduced the third-generation 'G80' in March and the 'GV70' in December. That year, Genesis sold 108,384 units, up 90.8% from the previous year, breaking the 100,000 annual sales mark for the first time in its history.
In 2021, Genesis built out its electrified lineup by successively launching the electrified G80, GV60, and electrified GV70, achieving its highest ever domestic annual sales of 138,757 units. In 2022, the brand completed its full lineup covering sedans, SUVs, and electrified models, surpassing a cumulative domestic sales total of 600,000 units.
From 2023 through last year, Genesis maintained annual sales of more than 120,000 units on average, continuing to solidify its position in the Korean luxury market.
The brand’s best-selling model has been the G80 (including the electrified model), with 422,589 units sold (42.1%), driving Genesis’s growth. This was followed by the GV80 with 189,485 units (18.9%), the GV70 (including the electrified model) with 182,131 units (18.2%), and the G90 with 130,998 units (13.1%). By segment, sedans accounted for 61.8% of sales, while SUVs made up 38.2%.
Genesis GV70 Graphite Edition exhibited at the 2026 New York International Auto Show. Genesis
원본보기 아이콘The Korean market is the largest market, driving Genesis’s global sales performance. When Genesis reached a cumulative global sales total of 1 million units in September 2023, domestic sales accounted for about 68% (approximately 690,000 units) of the total. When the brand reached 1.5 million cumulative global sales in January this year, about 64% (approximately 980,000 units) were sales from Korea.
The company explained that Genesis has been able to achieve such remarkable results in Korea because it has set a new standard capable of competing with global luxury brands, based on its distinctive design philosophy and competitive quality.
Genesis has continuously launched models with bold designs, under its differentiated design philosophy of 'Athletic Elegance,' and has won numerous prestigious international design awards, including the 'iF Design Award' and the 'Red Dot Award.' According to J.D. Power, the U.S. data analytics firm, Genesis was ranked No. 1 among premium brands five times over seven years between 2017 and 2023 in its Initial Quality Study (IQS).
Genesis also provides differentiated experiences for Korean customers. Starting with Genesis Studio Hanam in 2016, the brand has established spaces at major locations nationwide, including Genesis Gangnam, Suji, and Cheongju. In 2023, Genesis opened the exclusive 'Genesis Lounge' for top-tier clients at The Shilla Seoul Hotel.
Genesis continues to foster connections through culture and sports. Since 2017, Genesis has been an official sponsor of the Busan International Film Festival, aiming to promote the aesthetics of Korea and Asia to the world. Each year, the brand provides more than 100 vehicles, including the G90 and GV80, for official use and contributes development funds, helping enhance the prestige of Asia’s largest film festival.
In sports, Genesis has consistently supported the growth of men’s golf in Korea, beginning with the KPGA Tour Point Title Sponsorship in 2016. The 'Genesis Point' system, first introduced in the KPGA Tour, awards a total bonus of 500 million won to the top 10 players each season, motivating participants and contributing to the overall revitalization of Korean golf.
Launched in 2017, the 'Genesis Championship' has become a symbolic international men’s golf tournament, drawing as many as 30,000 spectators. The winner receives not only prize money but also entry rights to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour, providing a practical springboard for Korean players to advance onto the global stage.
Genesis plans to continue expanding touchpoints with domestic customers by opening new locations, expanding its online shopping mall 'Genesis Boutique', and introducing the 'One of One' bespoke vehicle service-which was first launched in the Middle East in 2021-to Korea.
Lee Sihyuk, Executive Vice President and Head of Genesis Business Division, stated, "Genesis’s achievement of 1 million cumulative domestic sales is a valuable result made possible by Korean customers who have chosen and supported Genesis over the past 10 years." He continued, "As a luxury brand born in Korea, the domestic market is both the foundation and the center of Genesis’s global growth. Going forward, we will continue to strengthen our close ties with Korean customers, fulfilling our role as the most desired luxury brand."
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