Hyundai and Kia achieve historic US sales growth in 2025, driven by hybrids and eco‑friendly models. Discover the figures and what’s next.
South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor Group and its subsidiary Kia have posted a spectacular sales surge in the United States for 2025. Thanks to soaring demand for hybrid and other environmentally‑friendly models, both brands recorded double‑digit growth despite a hefty 25% import tariff.
Overall Sales Surge
U.S. sales for the Hyundai‑Kia family climbed 7.5% year‑over‑year, reaching 1,836,172 vehicles in 2025, up from 1,708,293 in 2024. Hyundai alone posted a 7.9% rise to 984,017 units, while Kia grew 7% to 852,155 units. The results mark Hyundai’s fifth consecutive record‑breaking retail year and its third straight total‑sales record.
Hybrid and Eco‑Friendly Models Drive Growth
Hybrid and other low‑emission models surged 26% YoY, delivering 434,725 units across the two brands. In December, hybrid sales exploded by 71% compared with the same month last year – the highest monthly hybrid volume ever recorded.
Key hybrid models that powered this surge include:
- Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
- Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
- Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
- Hyundai Tucson Hybrid
- Hyundai Palisade Hybrid
Top‑Selling Hyundai Models
Hyundai’s SUV lineup continued to be a cornerstone of growth. Retail sales of the Tucson, Santa Fe and Palisade rose 8%, and total SUV sales jumped 10%.
Annual record‑breaking models this year include:
- Elantra
- Tucson
- Santa Fe
- Palisade
- Ioniq 5
- Venue
Kia’s Record‑Breaking Lineup
Kia also secured its third successive U.S. sales record. The launch of the second‑generation Telluride SUV and the K4 hatchback in the first quarter sparked fresh consumer interest, with several additional models slated for release in 2026.
Challenges and Outlook
While hybrid sales surged, pure‑electric vehicle (EV) sales for both brands fell 16% to 103,697 units. In December, combined sales for Hyundai and Kia rose modestly 1.5% YoY to 162,400 vehicles (Hyundai +0.9% to 87,397; Kia +2.3% to 75,003).
All Hyundai figures include sales of its premium Genesis brand. According to Wards Intelligence, Hyundai and Kia together commanded roughly 11% of the U.S. market in the first five months of 2025, a notable achievement given the tariff environment.
Looking ahead, the U.S. federal tax credit for EVs expires at the end of September 2025. Automakers, including Hyundai and Kia, have begun offering deep price cuts to sustain momentum, a strategy that could pressure profit margins and brand perception in the coming years.
With a solid foothold in the American market and a clear focus on hybrid and SUV offerings, Hyundai and Kia appear well‑positioned to keep their growth trajectory into 2026 and beyond.