Hyundai Motor, Kia post record US first-half sales on hybrid demand

Hyundai Motor and Kia each set all-time first-half sales records in the United States this year, with demand for hybrid vehicles and SUVs driving both brands to simultaneous monthly records in June as well.

Hyundai Motor America said Tuesday it sold a total of 450,568 vehicles in the US from January through June, a 3 percent increase from the same period last year and the highest first-half figure the brand has ever recorded.

Hybrid models led the improvement. The Elantra Hybrid, Sonata Hybrid and Tucson Hybrid all contributed to the sales gains. The trend reflects growing consumer interest in fuel efficiency and practicality as demand for fully electric vehicles softened somewhat.

June alone was also a standout month. Hyundai sold 77,055 vehicles in the US in June, up 11 percent from a year earlier — the best June performance in the brand's history.

Kia also rewrote its first-half US sales record. Kia America said cumulative sales for the first half reached 430,727 units, up 3 percent from 416,511 units in the same period last year.

By model, the Sportage Hybrid stood out with a 136 percent year-over-year surge. The Carnival rose 21 percent and the Telluride climbed 20 percent, with major recreational vehicle models posting double-digit growth across the board.

Kia's June sales also hit an all-time monthly high, with 70,507 units sold — a 10 percent increase from a year earlier. The Sportage Hybrid and Sorento Hybrid were particularly strong, each posting triple-digit percentage gains for the month and lifting overall results.

Combined, Hyundai Motor and Kia sold 881,295 vehicles in the US in the first half of this year. With both brands setting records for the half-year and for June, expectations are growing for further market share expansion in the United States.

Eric Watson, vice president of sales at Kia America, said the first-half performance reflected balanced growth across the brand's full lineup, from sedans to SUVs. "A well-balanced portfolio across internal combustion, hybrid and electrification models allowed us to get ahead of the curve," he said.