Daijiworld Media Network- Seoul

Seoul, May 2: South Korean auto giants Hyundai and Kia posted a robust 16% year-on-year rise in combined vehicle sales in the United States for April, fuelled by surging demand for their popular SUV line-up and a growing focus on electric vehicles.

According to the latest figures released on Friday, the two automakers sold 162,615 units last month, up from 139,865 units in April 2023. Hyundai led the charge with a 19% increase in sales, delivering 81,503 vehicles, including those under its luxury brand Genesis. Kia followed closely with a 14% jump, selling 74,805 units.

Strong sales of key SUV models — Hyundai’s Palisade and Santa Fe, and Kia’s Telluride and Sportage — were pivotal to the brands’ impressive performance.

“Reporting sales records for seven consecutive months has bolstered the Kia brand even more,” said Eric Watson, Vice President of Sales Operations at Kia America. “We remain dedicated to strengthening our lineup and enhancing customer satisfaction through innovation.”

Kia has also ramped up its electric vehicle ambitions, with production of the EV6 and EV9 models underway at its Georgia facility — making them eligible for U.S. federal tax incentives.

From January through April, Hyundai and Kia jointly sold 582,527 vehicles in the U.S., marking a 12% increase from the 519,067 units sold during the same period last year.

In a parallel development, Hyundai unveiled a redesigned version of its Xcient heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell truck at a clean transport exhibition in the U.S. market. With a 180-kWh fuel cell system and ten hydrogen tanks holding 68 kg of fuel, the truck is aimed at medium-distance logistics and port transportation sectors, underscoring Hyundai’s green mobility push.