Hyundai Motor, Kia, Genesis Sell 94,000 Units
3% Increase Compared to Previous Year
Last month, the Hyundai exclusive electric vehicle Ioniq 5 was exhibited at the auto show held in Washington. [Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Hyundai Motor sold 47,872 units in the United States last month. This figure represents about a 10% increase compared to January of last year, marking the highest January sales volume ever recorded. Kia's overall sales volume slightly decreased, but sales of eco-friendly vehicles such as electric cars increased.
According to the sales status announced on the 2nd by Hyundai Motor and Kia's U.S. subsidiaries, Hyundai saw double-digit sales growth across its lineup of SUVs including the Tucson, Palisade, Venue, and Ioniq. The company stated that these models set new January sales records.
Although some models like the Accent and Sonata experienced a decline in sales, the electric vehicle Ioniq 5 and the pickup truck Santa Cruz, which began local sales in the second half of last year, sold 989 and 2,820 units respectively, driving overall growth. Randy Parker, Vice President of Sales at Hyundai Motor America, explained, "Despite ongoing challenges from the pandemic and semiconductor shortages, consumer interest across the entire product lineup was high, resulting in record-breaking January sales."
Kia sold 42,488 units in the U.S. last month, about 6% less than the previous year. While SUV models such as the Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride saw slight increases, sales of other key models like the Soul and Forte declined. The Niro sold 2,254 units, showing a notable growth of about 1,000 units compared to the same period last year, reflecting strong growth in eco-friendly vehicle sales. Additionally, with the dedicated electric vehicle EV6 soon to be delivered locally, the company expects this growth trend to continue.
Eric Watson, Vice President of Sales at Kia America, said, "We showed growth exceeding the overall industry last year, and January sales of electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models reached an all-time high," adding, "The transition to electric vehicle sales is progressing smoothly."
Luxury brand Genesis sold 3,638 units, nearly a 29% increase compared to the same period last year. The newly added SUV GV70 led the growth by selling over 1,000 units. Although total sales remain lower compared to other Asian luxury brands like Lexus and Acura, the growth rate is the steepest.
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