Hyundai Motor and Kia have achieved record-breaking first-quarter sales in the U.S., moving over 430,000 vehicles. Hybrid models led the charge, with sales surging by more than 50%.
However, March saw a slight dip in sales compared to the same month last year, ending a streak of monthly sales records that had been ongoing since December.
According to Hyundai Motor Group on Thursday, combined U.S. sales for Hyundai and Kia in Q1 reached 430,720 units, up 2.6% year-over-year, setting a new quarterly record.
Both brands achieved their best-ever first-quarter results. Hyundai, including Genesis, sold 223,705 units, up 1.2%, while Kia moved 207,015 vehicles, a 4.1% increase. Genesis saw a 4.6% bump, selling 18,317 units.
Eco-friendly vehicles, particularly hybrids, drove this growth. Green vehicle sales jumped 33.3% to 115,713 units in Q1, accounting for 26.8% of total sales.
Hybrid sales skyrocketed 53.2% to 97,627 units. Hyundai’s hybrid sales surged 55% to 55,416 units, while Kia’s increased 51% to 42,211.
In contrast, electric vehicle (EV) sales fell 21.6% to 18,086 units, likely due to reduced demand following the Donald Trump administration’s EV subsidy cuts. Hyundai’s EV sales dropped 11% to 12,810 units, while Kia’s plummeted 39% to 5,276.
Hyundai’s top sellers were the Tucson (55,426 units, up 0.8%), Santa Fe (33,343, up 6.2%), and Elantra (33,063, down 1.3%).
Kia’s bestsellers included the Sportage (44,704, up 8.2%), K4 (37,220, up 0.6%), and Telluride (35,928, up 20.4%).
By brand, Hyundai Motor Group ranked second in U.S. sales behind Toyota (569,420 units), followed by Honda (336,830), Subaru (141,944), and Mazda (94,473).
Despite the strong Q1 performance, March sales softened. Hyundai and Kia’s combined sales fell 2.7% year-over-year to 168,012 units.
Hyundai sold 91,504 vehicles (down 2.8%) and Kia moved 76,508 units (down 2.6%). Genesis was the lone bright spot, with sales up 4.3% to 7,417 units.