Sales of imported cars in South Korea rose from a year earlier last month snapping their four-month losing streak, aided by strong sales promotion and the release of new models, industry data showed Friday.

In October, 20,612 new imported cars were registered, according to the data from the Korea Automobile Importers and Distribution Association. 


The October reading marked an 18.3 percent rise from a year earlier and 22.9 percent gain from the previous month, the data showed.

In the first 10 months of the year, foreign vehicle sales amounted to 185,801 units, down 5.5 percent from 196,543 units a year earlier.

Since peaking at a record monthly sale of 24,366 in December 2015, foreign auto sales have been on a decline due to the expiry of a special tax incentive and the recent ban on sales of Audi and Volkswagen car models here after an emissions scandal.

Last month's best-selling brand was Mercedes Benz with sales of 6,400 units, followed by BMW with 5,415, Lexus with 1,134 and Honda with 917.

Audi cars sold 475 units last month, and sales of Volkswagen vehicles were 30 units last month, hit by the sales ban. (Yonhap)