Registrations for imported vehicles increased in May, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association on Wednesday.

May recorded 19,470 new registrations, a 5.9 percent increase from the same month last year, which saw 18,386 registrations. The month’s total number of registrations was also a 9.1 percent increase from the previous month at 17,845 registrations.

Despite monthly imported car sales reaching 24,366 vehicles last year in December, car sales have since been stagnant, as monthly sales have been unable to surpass the mark of 20,000 vehicles.

Imported car sales have been especially hit by the Volkswagen and Audi emissions scandal that led to 25.7 percent and 17.4 percent decreases for the respective automobile manufacturer sales this year.

Meanwhile, the total number of imported car sales from January to May this year reached 93,314, a 2.3 percent decrease from last year’s sales during the same period.