Kia opened 2026 with its strongest January on record in the U.S., selling 64,502 vehicles for a 13% year-over-year increase, but the headline growth masked a sharp pullback in electric vehicle demand.
Sales of the Kia EV9 fell to 674 units, down 45% from a year earlier, while the Kia EV6 suffered an even steeper decline, plunging 65% to just 540 sales. The drop underscores how critical the $7,500 federal EV tax credit has been in propping up demand, as interest cooled quickly once incentives faded, despite recent updates to the EV6.
Outside of EVs, Kia’s lineup performed strongly. The Sportage led the brand with 13,984 deliveries, up 23%, while the Seltos more than doubled to 5,278 sales.
The Carnival minivan surged 60% to 5,879 units, the Telluride rose 7% to 9,424, and the Niro nearly tripled to 3,170. Sedans were mixed but generally positive, with the K4/Forte holding steady at 11,642 and the K5 climbing to 6,276. Offsetting gains included declines for the Soul, which fell to 1,731 sales, and the Sorento, which slipped to 5,904.
Kia executives framed the results as proof of momentum built over the past three years and emphasized the importance of a balanced portfolio.
With a new Telluride now offering a hybrid option and the K4 hatchback set to arrive soon, the company signaled confidence that broad powertrain choice, not EVs alone, will sustain its growth in the U.S., even as electric sales remain volatile without incentives.
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