Kia's Electric Vehicle Sales Plummet Due to Significant Decline in Major Models | Carscoops

      While Kia’s electric vehicle sales have seen a significant decline, the brand achieved a record first half in the U.S.

      7 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      In the first half of 2025, sales of the Kia EV9 and EV6 plummeted by almost 50 percent.

      Conversely, deliveries of the K5 sedan nearly tripled compared to the same timeframe last year.

      Overall, Kia's sales in the U.S. rose by 8 percent through June this year.

      Electric models are becoming increasingly important in Kia’s global strategy, and the company has established a reputation for developing some of the most appealing EVs in the market. However, this reputation is not translating into strong sales in the U.S. this year.

      Read: Kia Sold Just 37 EV9s in May, But a Gas Sedan is Thriving

      Although Kia's overall sales figures are up, its two leading electric models are experiencing declines. Both the EV6 and EV9 have seen significant drops in sales. The lack of the smaller EV5 and EV3 in North American dealerships might be starting to be perceived as a lost opportunity.

      Electric Sales Encounter a Setback

      The latest sales figures indicate that Kia sold 4,938 EV9 units in the U.S. during the first half of the year. This marks a substantial decrease of nearly 49% from the 9,671 sold in the same period in 2024. The situation in June was similarly bleak, with only 913 new EV9s sold nationwide, a 52% drop from the 1,905 sold in June 2024.

      The EV6's sales have also taken a downturn. Year-to-date sales are down 46%, with 5,875 units sold compared to 10,941 in the first half of 2024. June's performance was particularly poor; while 2,171 Kia EV6s were sold in June 2024, only 680 were delivered in June this year, a staggering decline of 69%.

      While some Kia executives may be concerned about these figures, especially with the federal tax credits expiring at the end of September, they can still take pride in a strong start to 2025 across the remainder of their lineup.

      Gasoline Models Absorb the Impact

      Despite the downturn in electric vehicle sales, Kia’s overall lineup has enabled the brand to begin 2025 on a positive note. Total U.S. sales reached 416,511 units through June, reflecting an 8 percent increase from 386,460 in the first half of 2024. However, this momentum slightly slowed in June, with 63,849 vehicles sold compared to 65,929 a year prior.

      Notably, the K5 sedan has stood out. Kia has sold 34,565 K5s this year, a significant rise from the 12,807 cars sold in the first half of 2024. This nearly threefold increase has drawn attention to the previously underrated midsize sedan.

      Sales of the Carnival minivan also saw a substantial rise, up 57 percent to 33,152 units from 21,083 at this time last year. The Telluride, one of Kia’s most popular models, experienced a 15 percent increase to 61,502 units from 53,700. Furthermore, the Sportage continues to be Kia’s top seller in the United States, with sales growing 9 percent year-over-year, reaching 87,172 units.

      KIA U.S. SALES