Kia America announced its February sales figures, revealing a slight decline in overall vehicle sales compared to the previous year. The company reported 59,059 vehicle sales in the United States last month, down 3% year-over-year. This brings the total for the first two months of the year to 110,149, a decrease of 2.4%.
Despite the overall decrease, Kia’s electric vehicle (EV) sales saw a significant uptick in February. The company reported a 65% increase in EV sales compared to the same period last year, although the exact number was not disclosed. However, estimates suggest that Kia sold approximately 4,000 EVs in February and nearly 7,500 between January and February.
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In February, Kia’s EV sales were primarily driven by vehicles based on the Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), totaling 2,627 units. This marks a 103% increase year-over-year and accounts for 4.4% of the brand’s total volume.
The E-GMP-based sales consisted of 1,309 units of the EV6, representing a 1% increase, and 1,318 units of the EV9, which is in its third month on the market. The EV9 continues to outsell the EV6, although this is largely due to vehicle supply constraints rather than demand.
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Additionally, Kia sold an undisclosed number of Niro EVs in February. Niro EVs are typically counted together with the internal combustion engine (ICE) version, but they usually average around a thousand units per month.
Year-to-date, Kia has sold over 5,200 E-GMP-based all-electric cars (EV6 and EV9), marking a 118% increase compared to the same period last year when only the EV6 was available. The introduction of the EV9 has contributed to this growth.
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Eric Watson, Vice President of Sales Operations at Kia America, commented on the company’s performance, stating, “Kia is continuing to lead the industry. Our innovative EVs and electrified models are gaining market share, and demand for our SUVs continues to grow. With the recent introductions of our refreshed Carnival and K5 models at the Chicago Auto Show and our groundbreaking new flagship, the all-electric EV9 SUV, generating ongoing industry buzz, our outpacing of the industry will continue as Kia offers the models and vehicle segments that consumers are interested in.”
