Kia America recorded its best June sales ever and achieved its highest first-half sales total on record, delivering 70,507 vehicles in June and 430,727 vehicles during the first six months of the year. The automaker credited strong consumer demand for hybrids and expects additional momentum from upcoming model launches.
Record June and First-Half Sales for Kia
Kia America reported June sales of 70,507 vehicles, a 10.4% increase from 63,849 units sold during the same month a year earlier.
Year-to-date sales reached 430,727 vehicles, up 3.4% from 416,511 during the same period last year, marking the brand’s highest first-half sales total on record.
Hybrid Models Drive Sales Growth
According to Kia, higher gasoline prices contributed to increased demand for hybrid vehicles. Sales of the brand’s eco-friendly models rose 187% compared with a year ago.
The increase was led by the Sportage Hybrid, which posted a 165% sales gain. The Sorento Hybrid followed with a 145% increase, while the Carnival Hybrid recorded a 54% rise.
Sportage Leads June Sales
The Sportage remained Kia’s top-selling vehicle in June, with 15,995 units sold, representing a 26.6% increase from the previous year.
The redesigned Telluride ranked second with 11,432 sales, up 23.7%. The K4 placed third with 10,553 units despite an 8.7% year-over-year decline, while K5 sales increased 13.6% to 6,378 units.
Electric Vehicle Performance Was Mixed
Kia’s electric vehicle lineup delivered mixed results during June.
EV6 sales declined by 96 units year over year to 584 vehicles, while EV9 sales climbed 42.3% to 1,299 units.
Top Sellers Through the First Half of the Year
During the first six months of the year, the Sportage remained Kia’s highest-volume model with 94,907 units sold.
- Sportage: 94,907
- Telluride: 73,602
- K4/Forte: 73,579
- Sorento: 49,348
- Carnival: 40,068
The Carnival also posted strong growth, with June sales increasing 34.4% and first-half sales rising 20.9% compared with the previous year.
Soul Exit Did Not Reduce Overall Sales
The company also completed the phase-out of the Soul without an overall decline in sales.
The Soul recorded three sales in June 2026, compared with 4,737 in June 2025. First-half sales totaled 3,480 units, down from 26,126 during the same period last year.
Kia Expects Momentum to Continue
Eric Watson, vice president of sales at Kia America, said, “The results illustrate our ability to react to shifting market demands by resetting our showrooms with the right mix of ICE, hybrid and electrified models. As we enter the second half of the year, we expect our momentum to continue, driven by strong anticipation for the all-new Seltos, which will begin full-scale sales nationwide in July, alongside the continued success of the 2027 Telluride, the expansion of our hybrid lineup, and the launch of the all-new EV3.”
With record June deliveries, record first-half sales, and continued growth across its hybrid lineup, Kia enters the second half of the year following its strongest opening six months in the U.S. market.
