Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea jumped 14.8 percent in February from a year earlier, a trade association said Thursday, amid slumping sales of local cars.

A total 10,556 units of foreign brand cars were sold here last month, compared with 9,196 units sold a year earlier, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.

The sales figure marked a stark contrast to a 12.5 percent drop in sales of domestic cars in February when the five local carmakers sold a total of 98,826 units.

BMW topped the list with 2,583 units sold last month, leading Germany’s dominance of the South Korean market.

Volkswagen followed with 1,552 units, trailed by Mercedes-Benz with 1,404, Audi with 1,308 and Toyota with 495.

The combined market share of foreign cars reached 12 percent in January in South Korea while the country’s giant Hyundai Motor Co. and its sister company Kia Motors Corp remained dominant in the market, according to the association. (Yonhap News)