Seoul: Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Corp. reported a significant increase in their combined vehicle sales in the United States, with a 16 percent rise in April compared to the same month the previous year. The surge in sales is attributed to a robust demand for their sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the two companies collectively sold 162,615 vehicles in the U.S. in April, marking an increase from 139,865 units sold in the corresponding period last year. Specifically, Hyundai's sales rose by 19 percent, reaching 81,503 units, up from 74,111. Meanwhile, Kia saw a 14 percent increase in its sales, with 74,805 units sold compared to 65,754 units in the previous year.
The sales figures for Hyundai include those of its independent luxury brand, Genesis. The strong performance was largely driven by popular models such as Hyundai's Palisade and Santa Fe, along with Kia's Telluride and Sportage SUVs.
Eric Watson, vice president in charge of sales operations at Kia America, highlighted that the brand has set sales records for seven consecutive months. He emphasized Kia's commitment to strengthening its product lineup and enhancing customer satisfaction through continuous innovation. As part of this effort, Kia has commenced production of the EV6 and EV9 at its Georgia facility, where both models are eligible for federal tax incentives.
From January to April, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined total of 582,527 vehicles in the U.S. market, representing a 12 percent increase from the 519,067 units sold during the same period last year, as per the sales data.