Kia America set an all-time U.S. monthly sales record in August 2026, selling 83,793 vehicles as strong demand for hybrids and record sales from six key models lifted the automaker’s results. Kia has now sold 590,377 vehicles in the U.S. this year, also an all-time year-to-date record.
Kia America Sets August Sales Record
Kia’s August sales increased 1% from the same month in 2025, reaching 83,793 vehicles and establishing a new monthly record. Year-to-date sales are up 3%, although Kia remains roughly 30,000 vehicles behind Hyundai.
Hybrid models played a major role in the automaker’s August performance. Kia’s hybrid sales increased 99% compared with a year earlier, with electrified versions of the Sportage, Carnival, Sorento and Telluride contributing to demand.
“The broad appeal of our products and the breadth of our powertrain offerings directly contributed to the high demand for our models and Kia’s record-breaking sales performance,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America.
Six Kia Models Set August Sales Records
Six Kia nameplates posted their best-ever August sales, with the following year-over-year increases:
- Seltos: +65%
- Carnival: +13%
- K4: +7%
- Telluride: +4%
- Sportage: +4%
- K5: +4%
The Sportage was Kia’s best-selling vehicle in August, with 18,723 units sold. The K4/Forte followed with 12,881 sales, while the Telluride recorded 12,693 and the Sorento reached 9,880.
New Kia Seltos Posts Strong Growth
The all-new Kia Seltos also delivered a strong start. Revealed in April 2026, the crossover recorded 9,214 U.S. sales in August, compared with 5,574 units sold during the same month last year.
That represents a 65% increase and makes the Seltos one of Kia’s fastest-growing models. Its higher sales also fill the gap left by the discontinued Soul, which was previously Kia’s cheapest crossover.
The 2027 Kia EV3, another newcomer, recorded six sales during its first month on sale. The source expects sales to climb quickly as production ramps up.
Kia’s Expanding Lineup Supports Sales
Kia’s lineup has undergone significant activity over the past 12 months, with several important nameplates entering new generations. The Telluride, Seltos and K4 have all received new-generation models, while the Kia EV3 marks the brand’s first-ever electric crossover.
The brand’s hybrid lineup, including several plug-in models, has also helped Kia capitalize on demand for more efficient vehicles. While EVs remain a weak spot, the rest of the lineup has more than compensated for the decline in EV demand.
With 83,793 vehicles sold in August and 590,377 sold so far in 2026, Kia America has now established both a new monthly sales record and an all-time year-to-date record.
