Kia's U.S. sales hit record high in August; Hyundai sales decline

SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Kia Corp. reported record monthly vehicle sales in the United States in August, while Hyundai Motor Co. announced a decline in sales numbers, according to the Hyundai Motor Group subsidiaries. Kia America sold 83,793 vehicles in August, marking a 1 percent increase from the previous year and achieving the highest monthly sales in the company's history.

Cumulative sales for the first eight months of the year rose by 3 percent compared to the same period last year, reaching a record high of 590,377 units. The Sportage SUV emerged as Kia's top-selling model, with 18,723 units sold throughout the eight-month period.

On the other hand, Hyundai Motor America experienced a 2 percent decrease in U.S. sales, totaling 86,977 units in August. Despite the decline, hybrid vehicle sales within Hyundai continued to perform strongly, with a 33 percent increase from the previous year, setting a monthly record for August. Among major models, the Palisade SUV saw a 18 percent drop in sales, with 12,729 units sold compared to the previous year. The Ioniq electric vehicle lineup also faced weaker sales compared to earlier periods.

In contrast, sales of the Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs showed positive growth, increasing by 18 percent and 5 percent year-over-year, respectively, during the same time frame.