Kia’s great run continues
Kia America has released sales results for June 2026 and the first half of the year, having achieved new records for both. The company sold 70,507 vehicles in the U.S. last month, a 10% year-on-year increase. Kia has now moved 430,727 vehicles in 2026 so far, an increase of 3% and a new record for the first half of any year. Four gas models and three hybrids achieved best-ever June sales, and the full-scale launch of the new Seltos is expected to give the thriving automaker another boost in July.
Multiple Kia Models Hit New June Records
2027 Kia Telluride Kristen Brown
The strength of Kia’s lineup is its diversity, with a range of body styles and powertrain choices across a broad price spectrum. In June alone, the automaker attained the following model-specific sales records:
Across Kia’s lineup, hybrid models grew by 187%, a remarkable achievement. The Sportage remained the top-selling Kia, with 15,995 models sold. It was followed by the Telluride (11,432), K4/Forte (10,553), and Sorento (8,602). The slowest-selling model was the discontinued Soul, with just three sales.
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New Highs For First-Half Sales
Kristen Brown/Autoblog
Looking at the first six months of the year combined, the Sportage Hybrid was the star, with sales up by 133%. This model sits in the immensely popular compact crossover segment, and its success comes even after the arrival of the new Toyota RAV4. The Carnival’s first-half sales increased by 21%, an impressive increase for the family-friendly minivan. The all-new Telluride has also been on a roll, with a 20% gain in the first half.
By category, all Kia hybrid model sales increased by 115% in the first half. Electrified models (including EVs) rose by 68%, while SUVs were up by 4%.
“Kia’s record-breaking first half sales performance was seen across our entire lineup of sedans and SUVs. 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,” said Eric Watson, vice president, sales operations, Kia America. “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.”
What It Means
Kia’s phenomenal run continues. Having already registered record annual U.S. sales for each of the last three years, it’s now on track to do so for a fourth straight year. There isn’t just one factor that can be attributed to Kia’s great run. A fresh lineup, a diverse powertrain strategy, and some of the most boldly designed vehicles among mass-market brands have combined to see the automaker post incredible growth. If Kia’s trajectory continues, it may not be much longer before it tallies a million annual sales in America.
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