Chabot Mobility said on the 8th that it released the "2025 vehicle purchase trend report," which analyzes vehicle purchase quote data received through its platform Chabot.
The analysis was conducted based on actual vehicle purchase quote data received on the Chabot platform from January to December 2025. Rather than simple shipments or sales figures, it comprehensively analyzed the models, financing methods, and contract structures chosen at the stage when consumers seriously consider a purchase, to examine actual purchase intent and consumption tendencies.
According to the report, 2025 vehicle purchase trends can be summarized as the entrenchment of a preference for premium models, the spread of purchase strategies using long-term financing, and the segmentation of purchase methods by vehicle usage purpose. Even amid high interest rates, consumers tended to choose vehicles strategically by adjusting financing structures rather than delaying purchases.
By purchase method, lump-sum and installment payments accounted for 67.5% of the total, the highest share, with leases and rentals at 17.4% and electric vehicles at 9.9%. The average term for lump-sum and installment contracts was 50.4 months, with 60-month installments the most common, indicating that the use of long-term financing to reduce monthly payments has become widespread.
In the domestic category, Kia The New Sorento Hybrid, Kia The New Seltos, Genesis New GV70, and Hyundai The New Avante ranked near the top. In the imported category, the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class showed overwhelming preference, confirming a consumption trend centered on premium sedans.
In the lease and rental market, the tilt toward domestic premium models and high-priced imported cars was even more pronounced. Among domestic cars, the Genesis New GV70 and Sorento Hybrid, and among imports, the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, formed the top tier. The average lease and rental contract term was 47.5 months, shorter than lump-sum and installment plans, reflecting a usage-centered consumption tendency premised on vehicle replacement cycles of two to four years.
Electric vehicles accounted for 9.9% of total quotes, a limited share, but demand was split between premium imported EVs such as the BMW i5 and practical domestic models such as the Kia EV3. Reduced subsidies, infrastructure, and concerns about residual values were analyzed as constraints on broader adoption.
A Chabot Mobility official said, "We confirmed that consumer preferences diverge clearly depending on the purchase method even for the same model," and added, "Customized matching that considers not only vehicle selection but also financial conditions, usage purposes, and lifestyle is becoming more important."