September has been quite a month for Korean brands Kia and Hyundai, both of which have hit impressive milestones in recent weeks. Hyundai produced its 100th million vehicle (an Ioniq 5) and sister brand Kia enjoyed its best-ever EV and plug-in hybrid September sales in the United States last month.
Kia reports that EV and PHEV September sales increased by 43% and 11%, respectively, over the same period last year, despite fewer selling days compared to September 2023. This is positive news and could be a sign that attitudes towards all-electric cars are slowly changing, but this remains to be seen. It comes as no surprise that PHEV sales have increased too; customers are drawn towards the mix of value for money and a decent all-electric range that modern plug-in hybrids can offer.
Strong EV And PHEV Sales Show Promise For Electrified Vehicles
In total, Kia shifted a total of 58,913 vehicles in September. 3,708 of those sales came from the EV6 (1,612) and the new EV9 (2,096), which is impressive. It’s worth noting that sales of the EV6 have fallen slightly compared to September 2023, but this could be down to potential buyers waiting for the facelifted model to reach America before purchasing one.
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Unfortunately, Kia did not provide details about its plug-in hybrid offerings, but notes sales of its Sportage, Forte, Carnival, and Seltos models are up through the third quarter as the automaker remains “committed to offering customers a variety of electrified and ICE choices.” Once the EV3 arrives in the US, we anticipate sales of Kia EVs will soar to higher levels. In total, electrified vehicles accounted for 17% of September’s sales volume.
“Sales of Kia’s electrified offerings continued to grow despite the industry-wide softening in growth for all-electric models. Double-digit sales gains for Kia’s EV and PHEV models prove Kia’s leadership position as the industry transitions to electrification. As we enter the fourth quarter, with the all-new K4 compact sedan and the first-ever Carnival Hybrid MPV arriving in showrooms nationwide, we are confident this positive sales momentum will carry us through the remainder of this year and well into next.”
– Eric Watson, Vice President, Sales Operations, Kia America
Hyundai Reaches Massive Production Milestone
Over in South Korea, Hyundai held a ceremony at its Ulsan plant to celebrate 100 million units of global production. This momentous milestone comes 57 years after Hyundai was established, making the automaker one of the fastest to achieve this goal. To mark the occasion, Hyundai delivered the 100 millionth and first vehicle, a black Ioniq 5, directly to a customer.
The Ulsan plant first started operating in 1968, and remains a very important part of Hyundai and the greater Korean automotive industry’s history. It was the site of Korea’s first mass-produced vehicle, the Pony, and is now a “central hub for electrification,” according to Hyundai. The automaker also plans to establish a dedicated EV facility at the Ulsan site.
“Each and every employee at Hyundai Motor has contributed to the accumulation of 100 million units through their hard work and dedication. This auspicious occasion is just the first step toward the future era of electrification that Hyundai Motor will lead.”
– Dong Seock Lee, President and Head of Domestic Productions and Chief Safety Officer at Hyundai Motor Company.
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