Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp have collectively sold more than 1.5 million eco-friendly vehicles in the United States, driven by rising demand for electric and hybrid models, the South Korean automakers said on Monday.
The milestone comes 14 years after the brands introduced their first U.S. hybrid vehicles, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5, in 2011. Currently, two out of every ten Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. fall under the eco-friendly category, which includes battery electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), conventional hybrids, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Sales of eco-friendly vehicles have accelerated rapidly in recent years. The brands reached 500,000 cumulative sales in 2022, and in just three years, that figure has tripled. Annual sales grew from 182,627 units in 2022 to 278,122 units in 2023, and 364,441 units in 2024. In the first half of 2025, Hyundai and Kia sold more than 221,500 eco-friendly vehicles, a 20% increase over the same period last year.
Hybrid vehicles accounted for more than 1.1 million units sold, followed by electric vehicles with nearly 375,000 units and FCEVs totaling just over 1,850 units. The Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and Kia Niro Hybrid were the top-selling models, while the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Ioniq 5, Kia Sportage Hybrid, and Sorento Hybrid rounded out the top five.
Hyundai and Kia currently offer 19 eco-friendly vehicles in the U.S., including eight hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, ten EVs, and one FCEV. Both brands have increased local production to meet demand, with Hyundai building EVs such as the Ioniq 5 and upcoming Ioniq 9 at its Georgia facility, and Kia producing the EV6 and EV9 at a separate plant. Kia plans to launch its first electric sedan, the EV4, in early 2026.