Hyundai Motor posted record U.S. sales in 2025, supported by strong demand for hybrids and sport utility vehicles, even as its battery-electric models lost momentum toward the end of the year.
The automaker said total U.S. sales reached 901,686 vehicles in 2025, marking its third consecutive year of record volume. December deliveries climbed to 78,930 units, the highest monthly total Hyundai has recorded in the U.S. market, capping what the company described as a strong finish for overall sales.
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Electric vehicle performance, however, weakened significantly in the fourth quarter. Sales of the Ioniq 5 fell about 50% in December from a year earlier, while Ioniq 6 deliveries declined roughly 62%. Both models were down by nearly 60% over the fourth quarter as a whole. For the full year, Ioniq 5 sales edged up nearly 6%, while Ioniq 6 ended 2025 about 15% lower. The launch of the three-row Ioniq 9 added incremental volume during the year, lifting total annual EV sales above 2024 levels, when the model was not yet available.
Several non-electric models also recorded declines. Sonata sales fell about 13% for the year, while the Santa Cruz light truck dropped roughly 20%. Kona sales slipped around 9% over the same period. These declines were more than offset by rapid growth in hybrids, with December hybrid sales rising 71% and full-year hybrid volumes increasing 36%, driven by electrified versions of the Elantra, Sonata, Tucson, Santa Fe and Palisade.
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Hyundai’s core SUV lineup also delivered solid gains, with Santa Fe sales rising 20% for the year, Palisade up 13% and Tucson increasing 14%. The results suggest that while overall vehicle demand remained resilient, U.S. consumers increasingly favored hybrids and traditional powertrains over fully electric models during the latter part of the year.
