by Kia has set a new sales record at the end of February. The updated Telluride helped this model achieve the best monthly result in its history. At the same time, electric vehicle sales continue to fall, with the decrease reaching 52.9%.
A New Brand Record
Kia achieved an absolute sales record in America last year, selling 852,155 vehicles. This positive momentum continues: the brand posted its best-ever sales in February.
Last month, buyers purchased 66,005 Kia vehicles, which is 4.3% more than in February 2025. Although the volume leader remained the Sportage with 13,901 units sold, the true star of the month was the updated 2027 Telluride.
The new Kia Telluride abandons the V6 in favor of turbocharged and hybrid four-cylinder engines
Success of the Updated Telluride
The completely updated crossover began arriving at dealerships at the beginning of the month, and this helped increase sales by 37% to an absolute record of 13,198 vehicles. This is significant growth, and another boost is expected when the hybrid version appears later this year. However, it will cost $7,300 more than the base model, so market reception may not be as hot.
The third place in sales volume is held by the affordable K4 sedan, whose starting price is $22,290. Dealers sold 11,864 units last month, a slight increase compared to 11,669 vehicles for the same period last year.
Models with Positive Dynamics
Among the models with sharply increased demand is the Carnival minivan, whose sales grew by 31% to 5,805 units. Sales of the K5 sedan increased by 21%, and the Niro model was not far behind thanks to a 20% sales increase.
Decline in Electric Vehicle Sales
However, not all news was good. Buyers continue to avoid electric vehicles after the cancellation of the federal tax credit. EV6 sales fell by 52.9% to 600 units, and EV9 sales decreased by 39.8%—dealers were only able to sell 819 crossovers. Combined, Kia’s electric vehicle sales in February amounted to 1,419 units, which is 46.1% less than a year earlier. In the first two months of 2026, 2,633 electric vehicles were sold, meaning a 51.3% drop.
Sorento sales fell by 12.4%, and the Soul model, whose production has been discontinued, is gradually disappearing from the market. Dealers sold 1,025 such cars last month, and a quick search shows that about 600 units remain in stock.
Interest in the Kia brand in the US is growing at a rapid pace, and the reason for this is the all-new 2027 Telluride. It was at the moment of the launch of the second-generation SUV that the Telluride showed the highest monthly sales in history, highlighting the sustained interest and constant popularity of this model, which leads in its segment
— stated Eric Watson, Vice President of Sales Operations at Kia America.
Detailed Sales Statistics
The table below provides detailed statistics of Kia’s sales in the US for February 2026 compared to the same period last year, as well as results for the first two months of the year.
The overall picture of Kia’s sales demonstrates a dual market reality. On one hand, traditional ICE models, especially large SUVs and minivans, continue to gain popularity, as confirmed by the records of the Telluride and Carnival. This may indicate that buyers in this segment still prefer proven technologies, especially considering the premium for hybrid versions. On the other hand, the sharp decline in sales of the EV6 and EV9 electric vehicles, exceeding 50%, is an alarming signal. It clearly correlates with the cancellation of government incentives, casting doubt on the mass market’s readiness to transition to electric vehicles without financial support. The success of affordable models like the K4 and the sales growth of the Niro hybrid may indicate that the main demand vector in the near future will remain affordability and fuel efficiency, not full electrification.
