Sales of imported cars hit a new record last month, taking up 10.7 percent of the domestic market. According to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association on Monday, 12,123 new foreign cars were registered in September, up 14.6 percent on-month and 20.6 percent on-year.

Sales by Korean carmakers dwindled 6.6 percent on-year.

Import car sales rose because the government lowered tax on the purchase of new cars by 1.5 percent from Sept. 11 in a bid to boost domestic consumption.

BMW topped the list with 2,308 vehicles, followed by Mercedes-Benz (2,062), Volkswagen (1,831), Audi (1,441), and Toyota (972).

Toyota sales soared because luxury division Lexus rolled out a new ES model. Combined, Toyota and Lexus ranked fourth with 1,647 cars.

Sales of medium and compact cars are increasing. Cars of less than 2,000 cc accounted for the largest proportion or 48.5 percent of all imported vehicles, while those between 2,000 and 3,000 cc took up 33.1 percent.