Hyundai, Kia post record January US sales

Feb 05, 2026, 08:18 am

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Hyundai Palisade SUV. / Hyundai Motor

Hyundai Motor and Kia posted their strongest-ever January sales in the United States, signaling a robust start to the year and narrowing the gap with market No. 3 Ford.

According to Hyundai Motor Group on Tuesday, combined U.S. sales by Hyundai and Kia reached 125,296 units last month, up 7.7 percent from a year earlier and marking a record high for January. Hyundai, including its Genesis brand, sold 60,794 vehicles, a 2.4 percent increase year on year, while Kia posted sales of 64,502 units, surging 13.1 percent.

Notably, Kia outsold Hyundai in the U.S. market for the first time. Industry observers expect Kia’s momentum to accelerate further as sales of the second-generation Telluride begin in earnest this month.

Driven by strong demand for hybrid vehicles and SUVs, Hyundai and Kia significantly narrowed their gap with Ford. While the two brands maintained fourth place in the U.S. market with a combined market share of 11.3 percent, the difference with Ford shrank to just 0.3 percentage points, down sharply from a 1.9-point gap in January last year. Analysts say the duo could overtake Ford to claim third place in the U.S. market within the year if the current trend continues.

SUVs remained the clear standout. Hyundai’s Palisade recorded sales of 8,604 units, up 28.7 percent from a year earlier, while Kia’s Carnival, Seltos and Niro models also saw solid demand.

Jose Muñoz, CEO of Hyundai Motor, said on social media that the January performance builds on Hyundai’s historic achievements in 2025, when it sold more than 4.1 million vehicles globally and set record U.S. sales for the fifth consecutive year.

The sustained sales growth is translating into expanding market share in the United States. Despite maintaining fourth place overall, Hyundai and Kia’s steady gains have placed them within striking distance of Ford, whose January sales totaled 128,302 units.

Industry analysts attribute the strong performance to Hyundai and Kia’s strategy of limiting price hikes despite tariff uncertainties from the United States, while aggressively targeting the market with eco-friendly vehicles.

Hybrid vehicle sales jumped 65.7 percent year on year to 27,489 units. Hyundai sold 14,316 hybrids, up 51.9 percent, while Kia’s hybrid sales surged 83.8 percent to 13,173 units. In contrast, electric vehicle sales fell 33.7 percent to 4,471 units.

An industry official said the consistent growth led by hybrids and SUVs is expanding Hyundai and Kia’s influence beyond short-term results. “Their rising presence in the U.S. market reflects a structural step-up in competitiveness,” the official said.

#Hyundai Motor #Kia #US auto sales #market share #Ford