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Hyundai Actually Had An Up-Year With EVs In 2025. Can It Hold The Line Now?

Meanwhile, corporate cousin Kia wasn't so lucky—but it still had its best-ever year of new car sales in the U.S.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT

Photo by: Hyundai

Patrick George

By: Patrick George

Jan 3, at 7:38pm ET

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Hyundai posted another strong year of U.S. electric-vehicle sales, boosted by the popular Ioniq 5 and the addition of the new Ioniq 9.
However, electric sales fell in the fourth quarter and in December as EV tax credits came to an end.
Kia had less luck with EVs, but still had its best year of U.S. sales ever.

It turns out that not every automaker is seeing a decline in electric-vehicle sales.

South Korean automaker Hyundai released its final 2025 sales data today. The figures shows another year of EV sales gains, led by the popular Ioniq 5 crossover and the addition of the new Ioniq 9 three-row SUV to the lineup. Hyundai also said that 2025 brought another annual sales record for the Ioniq 5.

That vehicle, an InsideEVs' Breakthrough Awards Editor's Choice pick for 2026, moved 47,039 examples in 2025, up from 44,400 in 2024. The Ioniq 9, which was not on sale in 2024, sold 5,189 examples.

Gallery: 2026 Breakthrough Awards Editor's Choice: Hyundai Ioniq 5

2026 InsideEVs Breakthrough Awards Editor's Choice: Hyundai Ioniq 5

Source: InsideEVs

Coupled with the Kona Electric—which Hyundai does not break out from regular Kona sales—and its lineup of hybrid vehicles, Hyundai is claiming an all-time record for U.S. electrified vehicle sales in 2025. EVs were up 7% year-over-year, while hybrids were up 36%, with the latter making up a third of Hyundai's total sales.

Meanwhile, the Ioniq 6 continued to suffer from America's declining interest in sedans. It moved 10,478 examples in 2025, down from 12,264 in 2024. It is unclear whether the facelifted Ioniq 6 is coming to the U.S. or not, but the high-performance Ioniq 6 N will be sold here "in limited quantities."

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Some cracks are beginning to show for Hyundai's EV sales, however. In the fourth quarter, after America's EV tax credits came to an end, Ioniq 5 sales dropped 58% from the same period in 2024. Hyundai has responded by dramatically cutting prices on its electric lineup, making the Ioniq 5 in particular one of America's best new EV deals.

Hyundai also sold five Nexo fuel-cell vehicles in 2025.

Gallery: 2025 Kia EV6

2025 Kia EV6

Source: Patrick George

Meanwhile, the Korean automaker's sibling brand Kia wasn't quite as lucky selling EVs in 2025. The Kia EV6, despite being a close relative to the Ioniq 5, sold 12,933 examples last year—a 40% drop from 2024. The EV9 three-row SUV was also down, selling 15,051 units to 2024's 22,017. Kia's EV sales also declined significantly after the tax credits ended.

In spite of this, Kia had a good year. It too is claiming 2025 was its best-ever U.S. sales year, with overall sales up 7% despite policy headwinds, tariffs and other challenges. In particular, Kia's strong-selling hybrids pushed electrified vehicle sales up 24% year-over-year.

The Hyundai Motor Group crafted ambitious plans to build EVs in America, as it counted on the tax credit and stricter fuel economy rules driving a more electric market. With the Trump administration and Congress doing away with both, officials at the company have said they'll adjust their strategy by focusing on hybrid cars and adjusting prices. The Kia EV4 sedan was delayed indefinitely last year, in part due to increased tariffs on Korean-made cars.

But now the question is, how can Hyundai and Kia keep up the EV momentum they've had with buyers until now? One answer could be selling the Kia EV3 and upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 3—two smaller, more affordable crossovers that share technology with their larger siblings—in the U.S. Or even perhaps building one or both of those cars stateside, as the automaker now does with the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9, EV6 and EV9.

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However, Kia has not released any new details about the release of the EV3 in the U.S., and the Ioniq 3 won't debut until later this year. For now, fans of these brands who want something more affordable may just have to hang tight.

Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com

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