By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter Honda, BMW and Lexus are engaged in cutthroat competition to take the top place in South Korea’s imported car market with price reductions and special promotional gifts, according to industry sources Sunday. Up until July this year, Honda had sold 4,136 cars, just four more than runner-up BMW, which sold 4,132, according to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA). Lexus came a close third with 4,111. Lexus, the luxury car division of Japanese automaker Toyota, which had taken the lead in imported car sales for two consecutive years, remained in the top place until the end of the first quarter this year with sales of 1,707 units. But Honda, another Japanese carmaker, outpaced Lexus from April to June to catch up with the frontrunner in the first half of the year. Honda sold 3,610 cars in the six-month period, followed by Lexus with 3,547 and BMW with 3,437. In July alone, BMW sold 695 cars and overtook Lexus in terms of accumulated sales in the first seven months, driving the three favorites into a yet fiercer sales competition to attract local customers. Honda, which enjoyed great success with its ``CR-V’’ compact crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV), plans to expand its dealership network to Daejeon, Daegu and Gwangju, while stepping up efforts to raise the level of consumer satisfaction. Lexus also plans to introduce its top-class hybrid model, the ``LS600h’’ to the South Korean market in addition to the popular ``ES-350,’’ while fortifying marketing activities that utilize golf lessons, cooking classes and opera galas. BMW, for its part, will present ``tailored’’ models of its BMW7 series equipped with a variety of options and plans to hold various events for local customers including test-drives, according to the company. With the three players leading the van in the heated race, other foreign carmakers are also trying to boost their sales in South Korea. Riding on the popularity of luxury vehicles, the market share of imported cars has been gradually increasing in recent years. Volkswagen Korea and Audi Korea have recently introduced no-interest financing programs from 24 to 36 months, while Volvo Korea also pays the acquisition and automobile registration taxes for its customers. Mercedes-Benz Korea is holding a series of ``reward’’ events throughout the month, including a price reduction, on the occasion of its fifth anniversary since its launch here. It is also giving weeklong tours of Germany to those who buy the ``S-600 L’’ sedan. According to the KAIDA, the market share of imported cars has gradually risen from 1.91 percent in 2003 to 2.65 percent in 2004, 3.27 percent in 2005 and 4.15 percent in 2006. Imported cars registered with the government reached 29,855 as of July, up 28.8 percent from last year. jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr