Korean Car Sales Surpass 1.8 Million for First Time in U.S.

Korean car sales set a new annual record for the third consecutive year, following strong sales momentum in the first half of the year.

According to annual sales reports released by Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Genesis, the three Korean brands sold a combined 1,836,172 vehicles in 2025, a 7% increase from a year earlier. It marked the first time that Korean car sales exceeded 1.8 million units in a single year. $Seetable$

However, sales growth appeared to slow toward the end of the year. December sales totaled 162,400 vehicles, up 2% from a year earlier, while fourth-quarter sales reached 461,691 units, remaining at a level similar to last year. This was seen as reflecting weaker year-end consumer sentiment and reduced demand associated with cuts to electric vehicle subsidies.

During the year, Korean brands were supported by new SUV launches and steady sales of internal combustion engine models. Hyundai Tucson recorded 234,230 units, the highest sales volume among all Korean models. Kia Sportage followed with 182,823 units, making it Kia’s best-selling model.

By brand, Hyundai Motor sold 901,686 vehicles in 2025, up 8% from the previous year. December sales reached 78,930 units, a 1% increase year over year, while fourth-quarter sales rose 3%. SUV models including Tucson, Santa Fe (142,404 units), and Palisade (123,929 units) accounted for about half of Hyundai’s total sales.

Kia sold 852,155 vehicles in 2025, a 7% increase from a year earlier. Key models such as Sportage, Telluride (123,281 units), K4 (140,514 units), and K5 (72,751 units) contributed to the results. Kia sold 75,003 vehicles in December, while fourth-quarter sales totaled 212,318 units, with both figures rising 2% from a year earlier.

Luxury brand Genesis recorded sales of 82,331 vehicles in 2025, representing a 10% increase from the previous year. GV70 sales rose 26% to 33,876 units, while GV80 Coupe sales increased 166% to 3,874 units. Genesis sold 8,467 vehicles in December, up 4%, and 23,065 vehicles in the fourth quarter, a 2% increase.

Separately, Genesis said it surpassed 1.5 million units in cumulative global sales ten years after the brand’s launch. As of November, cumulative global Genesis sales totaled 1,510,368 vehicles.

BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]