Seoul: Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea rose 34.6 percent in March from a year earlier, supported by more working days and robust demand for electric vehicles (EVs), industry data showed Friday. New registrations increased to 33,970 units last month from 25,229 a year earlier.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the three best-selling models in March were all from U.S. EV maker Tesla Inc. - the Model Y, Model 3 Long Range, and Model 3. Tesla's sales more than quadrupled to 11,130 units last month from 2,591 a year earlier. Sales at BYD Korea Co. surged to 1,664 units from 10 over the same period. The unit of China's BYD Co. began local operations in January last year, with sales first reported in March.

By powertrain, fully electric vehicles accounted for 47.8 percent of total registrations, or 16,249 units, followed by hybrids at 42.9 percent, gasoline models at 8.7 percent, and diesel vehicles at 0.5 percent.

Three German automakers -- Volkswagen Group Korea, BMW Group Korea, and Mercedes-Benz Korea -- sold a combined 14,891 units in March, down 6.4 percent from 15,915 units a year earlier. German brands accounted for roughly 60 percent of imported vehicle sales in South Korea last month.