4 Popular Cars You Didn’t Know Are Built in South Korea

South Korea has quietly become a global automotive powerhouse, churning out over four million light vehicles in 2025 alone. That output makes it the world’s sixth-largest car-producing nation, behind only China, the U.S., Japan, India, and Germany. Yet despite its massive production volume, most of these cars are exported—South Korea ranks as the world’s fourth-largest car exporter, shipping 2.7 million of the 4.1 million units built domestically. The country’s automotive dominance is largely driven by Hyundai Motor Group, which manufactures roughly 81% of all cars produced in South Korea under its Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis brands.

But foreign automakers also play a key role, thanks to globalization and lower labor costs. General Motors (GM) and French automaker Renault together account for 13% of Korea’s vehicle production, building several unexpected models on the peninsula—including some that might surprise even seasoned car enthusiasts. GM’s Korean operations are handled by GM Korea (formerly Daewoo Motor, now a GM subsidiary since 2002), while Renault Korea produces vehicles for Chinese automaker Geely (which acquired a 34% stake in 2022) and the Renault Group. Among the most notable models rolling off Korean assembly lines are the Chevrolet Trax, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Buick Encore GX—all built in South Korea but often mistaken for American or European products.

The Chevrolet Trax has been a Korean-built staple since 2012, originally produced at GM Korea’s Bupyeong plant in Incheon. It became South Korea’s top export car in multiple model years and remains one of the best-selling subcompact SUVs in the U.S., thanks to its stylish design, spacious cabin, and competitive pricing. In 2025, GM sold 206,339 units of the Trax in the U.S. alone—a 2.8% increase over the previous year and the model’s strongest sales performance since its 2012 debut. For its second generation (2024 onward), production shifted to GM’s Changwon Plant south of Seoul, where the model is now built alongside the outgoing Chevy Spark.

The facility was retooled to produce 60 units per hour, and between 2023 and 2025, around one million second-gen Trax models rolled off the line. Before the switch, the Bupyeong plant had already built over 1.4 million first-gen Trax units. The Chevrolet Trailblazer is another GM Korea creation, though its modern iteration bears little resemblance to the original truck-based model that debuted in 1999. The current subcompact unibody crossover, built on GM’s VSS-F platform, returned in 2020 after a long hiatus and has since become a sales success.

U.S. sales jumped from about 30,000 units in its debut year to over 90,000 in its first full year, and the model has consistently topped 100,000 annual sales since 2023. Its blend of attractive styling, strong fuel economy, and practical cargo space has made it a standout in the segment. GM Korea has exported over 980,000 Trailblazers since 2020. The Buick Encore GX, another underrated Korean-built crossover, shares much with the Trailblazer, including its VSS-F platform and engine options.

It’s powered by either a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder (137 HP, 162 lb-ft of torque) or a 1.3-liter turbocharged unit (155 HP, 174 lb-ft of torque). All-wheel drive is only available with the 155-HP engine, and in 2025, the Encore GX sold 57,528 units in the U.S., making it Buick’s second-best-selling model for the year. While the Trailblazer is slightly larger—with a 103.95-inch wheelbase versus the Encore GX’s 102 inches—both share tight dimensions. The Trailblazer offers 25.3 cubic feet of rear cargo space (54.4 cubic feet with seats folded), while the Encore GX provides 23.5 cubic feet (50.2 cubic feet folded).

Despite its smaller footprint, the Encore GX remains a strong seller, proving that even niche models built in South Korea can find a loyal audience abroad.