Key Findings
As of October 6, 2026, Tesla solidified its dominance by selling over 10,000 units in South Korea's imported car market in September. Ahead of Q3 earnings, Goldman Sachs maintained a 'Neutral' rating, emphasizing the importance of robotaxis and FSD.
Key Findings
- Explosive Growth in Korea: Tesla secured an overwhelming first place in South Korea's imported passenger car market in September with 12,372 newly registered units.
- Accelerating Electrification: Total new imported passenger car registrations in September hit 34,904, with eco-friendly cars taking up 91%. Amid Tesla's dominance, China's BYD entered the top 4.
- Analyst Views: Ahead of Tesla's Q3 earnings release on October 6, Goldman Sachs maintained its 'Neutral' rating and $360 price target. It analyzed that progress in robotaxis and Full Self-Driving (FSD) will be more critical to the stock than short-term earnings.
Details
Tesla Dominance and BYD's Rise in Korea's Imported Car Market
According to data released by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) on October 6, new imported passenger car registrations for September 2026 totaled 34,904 units. This marks a 17.1% increase from the previous month and a 6.3% jump year-over-year. Notably, Tesla registered 12,372 units during September alone, taking the top spot among imported car brands.
This growth is anchored by the shift toward electrification. Eco-friendly cars accounted for 91% of imported passenger car registrations in September. Amid Tesla's strong lead, the competitive landscape is shifting as China's BYD entered the top 4 imported car registration rankings for the first time. The popularity of models like the Model Y is seen as driving sales for domestic automakers like Hyundai and Kia while setting new records in the imported car market.
Goldman Sachs: "Focus on Robotaxis and FSD Over Earnings"
Wall Street analysts are also keeping a close eye on Tesla's next moves. In a report ahead of Tesla's (TSLA) Q3 earnings announcement on October 6 (local time), Goldman Sachs stated it is maintaining its 'Neutral' rating and $360 price target.
Goldman Sachs noted that while the current stock price exceeds the target, future price trajectories will depend on the commercialization and progress speed of robotaxi services and FSD technology rather than short-term vehicle deliveries or financial figures. This suggests Tesla is being re-evaluated not just as a traditional automaker, but as an AI and autonomous driving company.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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