Kia EV Sales Double, But Carnival Outsells EV6 And EV9 Combined

Kia sold twice as many electric cars in the US in the first half of 2024 versus 2024, but demand for the EVs is still much lower than for gas models

                                        https://www.carscoops.com/author/chris-chilton-cc/                                    

Sales of electric Kias surged dramatically in the first half of 2024, according to new figures. Deliveries of battery-powered models more than doubled to 29,392 from January through June this year, marking a 112% year-over-year growth. This increase was largely attributed to the introduction of the EV9 SUV, which debuted last fall.

Kia sold 9,671 EV9sin the first six months of 2024, but demand for its EV6 crossover brother also improved. Only 8,328 Americans signed up for an EV6 in the first half of 2023, though 10,941 have taken one home so far this year, representing a significant 31.4% increase.

Related: 2026 Kia EV9 GT Debuts January With ‘Enormous Power’ And 0-60 In 4 Seconds

But a look at Kia’s other sales data helps put those numbers in context. Kia’s Carnival minivan sold 21,083 units in H1, 2024 (+18.3%) – more than the EV6 and EV9 combined, and this was before the van’s 25MY facelift arrived. The Niro (18,102) came close to replicating the feat and Sorento, Telluride and Sportage sales make even Carnival demand look weak. Almost 80,000 people bought a Sportage (+11.1%) in the first half of this year.

In fact, the only combustion Kia that didn’t outsell either the EV6 or EV9 was the Rio, and that was because it was killed off after the 2023 model year meaning the 1,916 that were sold this year were leftovers.

Kia US Sales

But breaking out the June figures and comparing them with those for June last year shows that the EVs are gaining ground. EV6 sales increased from 1,458 to 2,171, and while we can’t make the same comparison with the EV9 because it wasn’t available last June, we can see that of the 9,671 units it’s moved in the first half of 2024, 1,905 came in June alone.

And Kia’s electric sales will get an extra shot in the arm in 2025 when the EV3 subcompact SUV arrives in time for the 2026 model year. The Volvo EX30 rival rides on a 105.5-inch (2,680 mm) wheelbase and promises a WLTP driving range of up to 373 miles (600 km).

Overall, Kia’s sales dipped slightly in the first half of 2024, falling 2.0% to 386,460 units. This decline can likely be attributed, at least in part, to a cyberattack that hit software provider CDK Global in late June. The attack disrupted dealership management systems across the industry, impacting thousands of stores.