Hyundai and Kia Set U.S. September Sales Records on SUV and Hybrid Demand

Hyundai Motor and Kia each recorded their best September sales in the United States, extending the South Korean automakers’ momentum in one of their most important overseas markets. Strong demand for sport utility vehicles and hybrid models led the gains.

Hyundai Motor America sold 77,439 vehicles during the month, an increase of 9 percent from a year earlier. The result was the company’s highest U.S. sales total for any September. Its Palisade SUV posted a particularly sharp rise, with sales climbing 52 percent year over year. The Sonata sedan and the Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs also achieved double-digit growth.

Hybrid electric vehicles accounted for 28 percent of Hyundai’s total U.S. volume in September. That share highlights the growing role of electrified models in the company’s product mix, while conventional gasoline vehicles remain part of its broader lineup. Hyundai’s strong result was therefore spread across several vehicle types rather than depending on a single nameplate.

Kia America delivered 77,009 vehicles, up 18 percent from the same month a year earlier. That was also Kia’s best September performance in the U.S. market. The company identified a broad group of models as contributors, including the Seltos, Niro, K4, Telluride, Sorento, Carnival, K5 and Sportage.

Together, Hyundai and Kia sold 154,448 vehicles in the United States during the month. Their totals were separated by just 430 units, with both brands exceeding 77,000 deliveries. The figures show growth across compact and midsize SUVs, sedans and multipurpose vehicles, alongside continued demand for hybrid powertrains.

The September results reinforce the importance of SUVs to both brands’ U.S. operations. Hyundai’s Palisade, Tucson and Santa Fe were among its faster-growing products, while Kia’s list of contributors included the Seltos, Telluride, Sorento and Sportage. The breadth of those gains gives the two automakers multiple sources of volume in a highly competitive market.

For Hyundai, the record month also provides a stronger base as it refreshes key models and expands its global lineup. For Kia, the 18 percent annual increase points to faster growth during the month, supported by demand across much of its portfolio. Both companies now enter the final quarter with record September performances and sustained U.S. consumer interest in utility vehicles and hybrids.