Kia America Posts Highest First Quarter Sales Total in Company History Telluride sales rose 20 percent year-over-year, with the second–generation model driving first–quarter volume to 35,928 units — the highest quarterly result in the vehicle's history. The all-new Telluride has continued its strong momentum, recording monthly sales of over 13,000 units for two consecutive months following its launch. Moreover, Sportage (+8 percent); Carnival (+9 percent); and K4 (+1 percent) – posted first quarter sales r ...

Group 1: Hyundai Sales Projections - Hyundai, including its Genesis brand, aims for a slight increase in global sales to 4.158 million units by 2026, with 700,000 domestic sales and 3.46 million units overseas [1] - Sales in North America are projected to rise to 1,231,000 units, while European sales are expected to remain flat at 601,000 units [1] - The company anticipates continued product mix improvement and new model launches to counteract rising competition and economic uncertainties [1] Group 2: January Sales Performance - Hyundai's global sales decreased by 1.0% to 307,699 vehicles in January 2026 compared to 310,962 a year earlier, with domestic sales rising by 9% to 50,208 units [2] - Domestic sales by South Korea's five main automakers increased by 10% to 99,790 units in January 2026 from 90,702 units a year earlier [7] - Kia reported a 2.4% rise in global sales to 245,557 vehicles in January 2026, driven by a 12% increase in domestic sales [8] Group 3: Economic Context - The South Korean economy contracted by 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2025, reversing a previous expansion, influenced by weaker investment and exports [5] - The market remains sluggish despite more working days and new model rollouts, with Hyundai expecting a moderate sales decline for the full year [6] Group 4: Competitor Performance - GM Korea's global sales surged by 41% to 44,703 units in January 2026, primarily due to a significant increase in overseas sales [11] - Renault Korea's global sales fell by 2.2% to 3,732 units in January 2026, with domestic sales declining by 14% [16] - KG Mobility (KGM) reported a nearly 10% rise in global sales to 8,836 vehicles in January 2026, reflecting a sharp increase in domestic sales [14]

Core Insights - Kia America achieved total sales of 852,155 units in 2025, marking a 7 percent increase from 2024 and surpassing the 800,000 mark for the first time in company history [1][5] - This represents the third consecutive year of record sales for Kia, with retail sales through Kia dealers growing for eight consecutive years, increasing 5 percent year-over-year [1][5] - The brand's U.S. market share reached an all-time high, reflecting strong consumer demand for Kia's diverse model lineup [1][3] Sales Performance - Four models, including Carnival (+44 percent), Sportage (+13 percent), Telluride (+7 percent), and K4 (+1 percent), achieved their best-ever annual sales totals [2][5] - Sales of electrified models increased by 24 percent, while SUV sales rose by 5 percent, both setting new annual sales records [2][5] - The Sportage SUV delivered the best annual performance by a Kia model to date [2] Future Outlook - The company anticipates continued positive momentum into the New Year, supported by the launch of the second-generation Telluride and the new K4 hatchback in the first quarter [3] - Additional new products are expected to contribute to ongoing sales growth [3] Model-Specific Sales Data - Detailed sales figures for various models in 2025 include: - EV9: 15,051 units - EV6: 12,933 units - K4/Forte: 140,514 units - K5: 72,751 units - Soul: 50,133 units - Niro: 31,182 units [4][7] Awards and Recognition - The upcoming 2027 Kia Telluride was named among Newsweek Magazine's 2026 Most Anticipated New Vehicles [6] - The 2026 Kia Sorento received the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, achieving the 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation [6]

Core Insights - Kia America achieved its best-ever November sales with 72,002 units sold, marking a 3-percent increase year-over-year and ensuring a record annual sales total for the third consecutive year [5][7] - Year-to-date sales have risen by 7 percent compared to 2024, with a total of 777,152 units sold in the U.S. in 2025 [5][7] Sales Performance - Five Kia models showed significant year-to-date increases: K5 (+64 percent), Carnival (+46 percent), Sportage (+13 percent), Telluride (+8 percent), and Sorento (+2 percent) [2] - Notable November sales records were set for Carnival (+49 percent), Sportage (+12 percent), and Seltos (+23 percent) [2] - Year-to-date sales for electrified models increased by 25 percent, sedans by 14 percent, and SUVs by 6 percent, reflecting the brand's diverse offerings [2] Product Developments - The second-generation Telluride SUV was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show, featuring an upscale design, enhanced off-road capabilities, and a new hybrid variant [3][6] - The 2026 Sportage SUV received the TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the IIHS, indicating high safety standards [6] Market Position - Kia America is recognized for its automotive quality and sustainability, being listed among TIME's World's Most Sustainable Companies of 2024 [8] - The company operates through a network of nearly 800 dealers in the U.S., offering a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles [8]

Core Insights - Kia America achieved record sales in October 2025, delivering 69,002 units, marking an 8% year-to-date increase over 2024, with a total of 705,150 units sold in 2025 [1][5][7] - The sales growth is attributed to strong retail performance at Kia dealerships, with notable increases in several models, including Niro (+75%), Carnival (+35%), K5 (+31%), Seltos (+32%), and Sportage (+17%) [2][5] - Kia is set to debut the second-generation Telluride SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which is expected to further enhance the brand's growth trajectory [3][6] Sales Performance - October 2025 sales of 69,002 units represent a new monthly sales record, with an 8% increase in year-to-date sales compared to 2024 [5][7] - Specific model performances include: - EV9: 666 units sold in October 2025, down from 1,941 in 2024 - EV6: 508 units sold in October 2025, down from 1,732 in 2024 - K5: 7,631 units sold in October 2025, up from 5,818 in 2024 - Carnival: 6,605 units sold in October 2025, up from 4,909 in 2024 [4][7] Model Highlights - The brand's electrified models saw a 16% increase in sales year-over-year, while SUVs experienced a 2% increase [2] - The Telluride SUV has been pivotal in Kia's brand transformation, having won multiple prestigious awards in 2020 [6] - The discontinuation of the Kia Soul is noted, with over 1.5 million units sold in the U.S. since its launch in 2009 [6] Future Outlook - Kia's focus remains on long-term growth through a diverse model lineup that offers outstanding value [3] - Anticipation builds for the upcoming Telluride SUV, which is expected to contribute positively to sales as the holiday season approaches [3][6]

Core Insights - Kia America achieved record sales in September 2025, delivering 65,507 units, marking an 11 percent increase compared to September 2024, and a total of 219,637 units for the quarter [1][7] - Year-to-date sales reached 636,148 units, representing a 9 percent increase over the same period last year, with 583,163 units sold through Kia dealers [1][5] Sales Performance - Six models showed significant sales growth: K5 (+85 percent), Carnival (+48 percent), Telluride (+13 percent), Sportage (+13 percent), Sorento (+7 percent), and K4 (+4 percent) [2] - Electrified models saw a 26 percent increase, sedans increased by 19 percent, and SUVs grew by 6 percent year-over-year [5] Market Position - Kia is on track for a third consecutive annual sales record and aims for the highest-ever market share, driven by strong sales in electrified and sedan models [3] - The EV9 model achieved record sales with 3,094 units sold in September and 7,510 units in the quarter [5] Model-Specific Sales Data - Detailed sales figures for September 2025 include: - EV9: 3,094 units - EV6: 2,116 units - K4/Forte: 8,829 units - K5: 5,290 units - Soul: 4,069 units - Niro: 2,446 units - Seltos: 4,635 units - Sportage: 14,515 units - Sorento: 6,502 units - Telluride: 8,408 units [4][7] Company Overview - Kia America is headquartered in Irvine, California, and is recognized for its automotive quality, sustainability, and diverse vehicle offerings, including gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric models [8]

Core Insights - Domestic vehicle sales in South Korea increased by 5% to 111,523 units in August 2025 compared to 106,149 units a year earlier, with the five main automakers showing varied performance [6] - Hyundai's global sales rose by 0.4% to 336,395 vehicles in August 2025, with a total of 2,738,841 vehicles sold globally in the first eight months, slightly higher than the previous year [2] - Kia's global sales increased by 1.7% to 2,104,293 units in the first eight months of the year, supported by new battery electric vehicles and strong demand for core SUV models [9] - GM Korea's global sales rose by 35% to 21,059 units in August, although year-to-date deliveries were down by 2% [13] - Renault Korea's domestic sales surged by 156% to 35,933 units in the first eight months, driven by the launch of new models, despite a 24% drop in global sales in August [21] Domestic Sales Performance - Domestic sales rose by 0.4% to 58,330 units in August from 58,087 units a year earlier, leading to a 2.1% increase in the first eight months to 469,457 units [1] - The five main domestic manufacturers reported a 2.5% increase in domestic sales to 910,878 units in the first eight months [4] - Hyundai's domestic sales increased by 2.1% to 469,457 units, while Kia's sales rose slightly to 368,102 units [4] Overseas Sales Trends - Overseas sales for Hyundai increased by 0.5% to 336,395 units in August, but year-to-date volumes decreased slightly to 2,269,384 units [1] - Kia's overseas sales fell slightly to 209,887 units in August, but year-to-date sales increased by almost 2% to 1,736,191 units [11] - GM Korea's exports surged by almost 42% to 19,852 units in August, although year-to-date exports were only slightly higher [15] Market Conditions and Economic Factors - The domestic vehicle market is supported by new product rollouts from major automakers, but overall demand remains sluggish due to high household debt and weak consumer sentiment [5] - South Korea's GDP expanded by 0.6% in the second quarter, following a contraction in the first quarter, aided by interest rate cuts [5] Future Outlook and Strategic Initiatives - Hyundai aims for global vehicle sales of 4,174,000 in 2025, including 710,000 domestic sales and 3,464,000 overseas sales, with a planned investment increase in the US to $26 billion [8] - Kia targets a 4% increase in global sales to 3,216,200 units in 2025, supported by new model launches [12] - KG Mobility plans to expand its zero-emissions vehicle range and has entered a strategic partnership with Chery Automobile for technology sharing [19]