Hyundai and Kia are showing no signs of slowing down after posting record-breaking January sales to start the new year.
Hyundai and Kia start 2026 with record US sales
After both set new US sales records last year, Hyundai and Kia are laying the groundwork for another strong performance in 2026.
Hyundai sold over 55,600 vehicles in the US last month, up 2% from the year prior, while Kia America sold an impressive 64,502 vehicles, an increase of 13% from January 2025.
The Korean automakers credited growing demand for electrified vehicles, including new hybrid SUVs. “Hybrid demand was the star of the month, up more than 60%,” Hyundai Motor North America’s president and CEO, Randy Parker, said.
While the new Palisade and Santa Fe hybrids primarily drove the growth, Hyundai’s all-electric vehicles fared differently.
Sales of Hyundai’s most popular EV, the IONIQ 5, fell 6% from last year to 2,126. Hyundai sold another 580 IONIQ 9 models last month and just 344 IONIQ 6s, down 61% from 871 in January 2025.
The IONIQ 5 was the fifth best-selling EV in the US last year, behind the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Chevy Equinox EV, Tesla Model 3, and Tesla Model Y.
According to Kelley Blue Book’s 2026 Best Buy Awards, the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 is the best overall EV you can buy in the US this year.
Like nearly all automakers, Hyundai’s EV sales took a hit after the $7,500 federal tax credit expired at the end of September.
Kia is no exception. Last month, Kia sold just 540 EV6 and 674 EV9 models, down from 1,542 and 1,232 in January 2025.
Like Hyundai, Kia’s hybrid models led the growth with the Carnival, Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride posting new January sales records. With the new Telluride and Palisade hybrids now available, Hyundai and Kia expect the hot streak to continue.
While EV sales are still down, Parker previously said Hyundai is confident the market will reset. The Trump Administration’s policy changes pulled EV demand forward as buyers rushed to claim the tax credit, which “temporarily disrupted the market,” he said.
In the meantime, Hyundai and Kia are stepping in with their own discounts and incentives. Hyundai cut prices on the 2026 IONIQ 5, making it one of the few EVs on the market starting under $35,000.
Kia, on the other hand, has been offering over $10,000 in customer cash discounts across its full lineup of electric vehicles, including the EV6, EV9, and Niro EV.
If you’re ready to check one out for yourself, we’re here to help you get started. Check out the links below to find Hyundai and Kia EVs near you.
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