Imported car sales in South Korea surged 34.4 percent on-year in September on strong demand for foreign car brands by consumers, a local trade association said Tuesday.

The monthly sales figure of 17,027 vehicles represents a significant gain from 12,668 units sold a year earlier, the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association said. It is also a 3.6 percent gain from the month before.

The total is equal to 13.3 percent of the 127,627 new cars sold in the country last month. This figure includes cars sold by the five local carmakers, including Hyundai Motor Co. and Renault Samsung Motors Co., and all imported brands.

“The sharp rise comes as companies successfully launched new vehicles, secured more cars from manufacturers and engaged in aggressive promotional campaigns,” said Yoon Dae-sung, the association’s executive manager.

For the first nine months of this year, sales of new foreign cars reached 145,844 units, up a solid 25.6 percent from 116,085 units sold for the same period last year. This also gives foreign-made cars a market share of 12.2 percent in South Korea. (Yonhap)