by Kia America set a new absolute monthly sales record, selling 80,000 vehicles in May. The Telluride SUV continues to win over buyers, posting five consecutive months of record sales. Demand for hybrids has exploded, and the all-electric EV9 SUV has also rapidly gained popularity.
Record-Breaking May for Kia
Kia insists the market remains challenging, but this is not evident from the sales charts. The automaker just reported its best-ever monthly retail sales in U.S. history, continuing a streak that shows no signs of slowing down.
In May, Kia sold 80,502 vehicles in America, slightly surpassing the 79,007 units delivered in the same month last year. More importantly, retail sales rose by 11 percent, exceeding the company’s previous record set in August 2025.
The strong month also helped Kia achieve its best year-to-date performance. In the first five months of 2026, the company sold 360,220 vehicles in the U.S., up 2 percent compared to the same period last year.
Telluride and Other Leaders
As has often been the case recently, a significant portion of the success belongs to the Telluride. Sales of Kia’s flagship SUV rose by 18 percent in May, reaching 13,665 units. The model also recorded its best month ever and has now posted five consecutive months of record sales. If there were any fears that buyers would lose interest in the large three-row crossover, they were dispelled by the update that debuted last winter and went on sale in early 2026.
The Sportage and Carnival also played key roles in Kia’s success. Sportage sales rose by 6 percent to 18,405 units, making it the brand’s best-selling vehicle in May, while Carnival deliveries increased by 16 percent to 8,062 units. Both models achieved their best-ever May sales figures.
Hybrids Achieve Great Success
But this pales in comparison to what is happening with Kia’s electrified vehicles. Sales of the Sportage Hybrid soared by 171 percent, the Sorento Hybrid rose by 101 percent, and the Carnival Hybrid climbed by 32 percent. Overall, hybrid sales surged by a colossal 179 percent.
Electrified vehicles as a whole also had an outstanding month. Kia reported that sales of electrified models rose by 133 percent, delivering the highest monthly and annual figures in the company’s history. Among the brand’s fully electric models, the EV9 SUV also has no trouble finding buyers.
Not All Models Riding the Success Wave
But not every model is riding this wave. The EV6 faced difficulties, and not for the first time, dropping from 801 sales in May last year to 708 this year. Even so, this setback and a few other minor obstacles were unable to stop Kia’s momentum.
Kia America Sales for May 2026 and Year-to-Date
| Model | May ’26 | May ’25 | Change | YTD ’26 | YTD ’25 | Change |
| EV9 | 1,647 | 37 | +4,351.4% | 5,736 | 4,025 | +42.5% |
| EV6 | 708 | 801 | -11.6% | 3,459 | 5,195 | -33.4% |
| K4/Forte | 12,592 | 13,870 | -9.2% | 63,026 | 63,971 | -1.5% |
| K5 | 6,673 | 6,957 | -4.1% | 32,016 | 28,952 | +10.6% |
| Soul | 7 | 5,043 | -99.9% | 3,477 | 21,389 | -83.7% |
| Niro | 2,773 | 2,354 | +17.8% | 11,719 | 9,822 | +19.3% |
| Seltos | 5,843 | 5,254 | +11.2% | 25,877 | 20,680 | +25.1% |
| Sportage | 18,405 | 17,063 | +7.9% | 78,912 | 74,542 | +5.9% |
| Sorento | 10,127 | 9,093 | +11.4% | 40,746 | 43,869 | -7.1% |
| Telluride | 13,665 | 11,560 | +18.2% | 62,170 | 52,263 | +19.0% |
| Carnival | 8,062 | 6,975 | +15.6% | 33,082 | 27,954 | +18.3% |
| Total | 80,502 | 79,007 | +1.9% | 360,220 | 352,662 | +2.1% |
These figures indicate that Kia is successfully diversifying its lineup by betting on hybrid technologies, which are rapidly gaining traction. At the same time, the near-zero drop in Soul sales points to the end of this model’s lifecycle, while the EV6’s struggles may signal a need to review the strategy for this electric vehicle. Overall, Kia’s record-breaking performance shows that even in challenging market conditions, the right product mix and model updates can ensure significant growth.
