Korean Automakers See US Sales Slip 1% in August Amid Prolonged EV Slowdown
A persistent slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) demand weighed on U.S. sales for Korean automakers in August, breaking recent sales momentum.
Combined August U.S. sales for Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis totaled 178,405 units, representing a 1% decline compared to 179,455 units sold during the same month last year. The contraction marks a reversal from July, when aggregate sales posted a 5% year-over-year gain.
While EV sales experienced sharp declines across all three brands, robust demand for flagship SUVs and hybrid models—including the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Seltos, and Sorento—helped offset a broader market downturn.
Hyundai Sales Fall 2% as Electric Vehicle Deliveries Drop
Hyundai Motor America reported total August sales of 86,977 units, down 2% from the prior year. Despite the top-line decline, several core internal combustion and hybrid models achieved double-digit volume growth.
The Elantra compact sedan saw sales rise 16% to 17,747 units, while the Tucson SUV led Hyundai’s lineup with 21,197 units sold, an 18% increase. Conversely, Palisade sales fell 18% to 12,729 units, and Kona deliveries dropped 13% to 6,165 units.
The slump was most pronounced across Hyundai’s all-electric lineup, where Ioniq 5 sales plunged 51% year-over-year to 3,818 units, Ioniq 6 sales fell 97% to 28 units, and Ioniq 9 sales dropped 42% to 589 units.
Kia Sets August Sales Record Driven by Hybrids and Compact SUVs
Kia America was the sole automaker among the trio to record growth, delivering 83,793 units in August—a 1% increase year-over-year that set a new monthly sales record for the brand.
Growth was propelled by the Seltos subcompact SUV, which surged 65% to 9,214 units. Surging fuel costs also drove interest toward Kia’s hybrid models, boosting Sportage Hybrid sales by 40%, overall Sorento sales by 22%, and Carnival deliveries by 15%.
Similar to Hyundai, Kia faced headwinds in its electric vehicle segment. Sales for the three-row EV9 SUV fell 33% to 1,789 units, while EV6 crossover sales dropped 60% to 712 units. Initial sales records for the newly introduced EV3 registered just 6 units, offering minimal impact on overall monthly volume.
Genesis Down 4% as Luxury EV Sales Weaken
Luxury brand Genesis recorded 7,635 unit sales in August, marking a 4% decline compared to the same month last year.
The brand’s top-selling GV70 crossover slipped 2% to 3,153 units. However, the GV80 SUV rose 3% to 2,350 units, and the GV80 Coupe added 361 units, representing a 3% gain. Among sedans, the G80 expanded 17% to 376 units, whereas G70 and G90 sales declined 8% and 25%, respectively.
Genesis electric models continued to experience reduced demand, with GV60 EV sales falling 35% to 114 units and Electrified GV70 sales dropping 69% to 76 units.
