Kia America is celebrating its tenth consecutive year-over-year monthly sales increase in the United States, with impressive figures for May. The South Korean automaker sold a total of 71,497 vehicles during the month, marking a significant 23 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This positive momentum has carried throughout the first five months of the year, with Kia delivering a total of 323,838 vehicles, representing a solid 21 percent growth.
Of particular interest is the notable success of the all-electric Kia EV6, which showcased encouraging results in May. The company reported sales of 2,237 EV6 units in the US, marking a 7 percent increase from the previous year and the best result achieved in almost a year. This outcome is particularly significant considering the challenges faced by the model in recent months.
Kia attributes the boost in EV6 sales to a combination of factors, including an effective marketing campaign and a competitive lease program. The introduction of a new lease program played a significant role in driving the sales figures upward. As a result, the EV6 witnessed an 80 percent increase in overall sales compared to the previous month.
It remains to be seen whether this positive trend will continue into June. The recent addition of the entry-level 2023 Kia EV6 Light, priced at around $44,000, is expected to contribute further to the model’s growth and appeal to a wider range of customers.
Breaking down the EV sales for Kia in May, the numbers reveal that the Kia EV6 accounted for 2,237 units sold, marking a 7 percent year-over-year increase and claiming a 3.1 percent share of the market. Unfortunately, specific figures for the Kia Niro EV are not available at this time.
Throughout the year, Kia has sold a total of over 6,870 EV6 units in the US, reflecting a 55 percent decrease from the previous year. These sales account for approximately 2.1 percent of Kia’s total volume.
To provide some context, Kia achieved a total of 20,498 EV6 sales and an additional 8,209 Niro EV sales in the US throughout 2022, resulting in over 28,700 electric vehicles sold.
Meanwhile, the Kia Niro EV has experienced positive growth this year, with sales surpassing 3,500 units, representing a notable 65 percent year-over-year increase.
It’s worth noting that Kia does not provide individual sales figures for other plug-in models, as they are combined with sales of conventional or non-rechargeable hybrid versions.
However, despite its recent success, the Kia EV6 faces a disadvantageous position due to its ineligibility for the $7,500 federal tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA).
Nonetheless, Kia is expected to continue expanding its presence in the all-electric car market, especially with the upcoming launch of the all-new Kia EV9. This highly anticipated model is a large, three-row SUV based on the E-GMP platform and is poised to make a significant impact upon its entry into the market.