August 2025 turned into a record-breaking month for Hyundai and Kia. Both Korean automakers posted their best numbers yet while American brands keep debating their EV plans. The secret? Give buyers options across gas, hybrid, and full electric, and they’ll show up with their wallets.
- Hyundai hit an all-time August record with 88,523 vehicles sold, up 12% from last year, with EVs and hybrids grabbing nearly one-third of retail sales
- Kia broke its own company record with 83,007 units sold—their best month in company history, period
- The IONIQ 5 now comes with a built-in NACS port for direct Tesla Supercharger access, and the EV9 bounced back with 2,679 units sold
Electric Sales Keep Climbing
While other automakers keep flip-flopping on whether to go all-in on EVs or stick with hybrids, Hyundai and Kia took a different approach. They’re selling everything, and buyers are responding.
Hyundai’s electric vehicle sales jumped 72% compared to August last year. The IONIQ 5 led the charge with 7,773 units sold—a 61% increase year-over-year. The IONIQ 6 sedan added another 1,047 sales with a 30% bump, and the new three-row IONIQ 9 found 1,106 buyers in its first full month on the market.
The real story? EVs and hybrids accounted for 32% of Hyundai’s retail sales mix in August. Almost one in three buyers walked into a showroom and left with something that plugs in. That’s a bigger shift than most people realize.
The IONIQ 5 Gets Even Better
The 2025 IONIQ 5 came with a factory-installed NACS charging port. Translation: you can roll up to any Tesla Supercharger and plug right in. No adapters, no compatibility headaches. Just plug and charge.
This matters because Tesla’s network has over 20,000 charging stations across the country. It’s the most reliable and widespread option available. Having direct access changes the game for road trips.
The updated model also got bigger batteries. The standard battery grew from 58 to 63 kWh, while the long-range version jumped from 77 to 84 kWh. The long-range model now hits 318 miles on a single charge. Drive from Los Angeles to San Francisco with charge left over.
Hyundai also added an off-road XRT trim. It sits an inch higher and gets all-terrain tires with recovery hooks. Because some people actually want to take their electric SUV beyond paved roads.
Kia Makes History with Its EV Options
August marked the best sales month in Kia’s entire history. The brand moved 83,007 vehicles, beating their previous record and showing 10.4% growth year-over-year.
The EV9 three-row electric SUV had a particularly good month. Sales hit 2,679 units in August, up 54% from July. Walk into any Kia dealer and they’ll tell you the EV9 has been generating serious buzz since launch. A fully electric three-row SUV starting around $55,000 undercuts most competitors by thousands.
The EV6 also posted solid numbers with 39% month-over-month growth. Traditional favorites like the Sportage, Telluride, and Carnival all saw double-digit gains. The Sportage alone sold 15,114 units, making it Kia’s top seller for the month.
Why Now?
These strong August numbers come at an interesting time. Both Hyundai and Kia have been offering aggressive deals on their EVs, partly enabled by federal tax credits that were set to expire at the end of September 2024. Buyers who signed contracts before that deadline could still claim the $7,500 credit even if delivery happened later.
With new models rolling off assembly lines at Hyundai Motor Group’s Metaplant America facility in Georgia, several electric vehicles now qualify for the full tax credit right from the factory. That gives both brands a real advantage over competitors still importing their electric models.
What Comes Next for These Korean EV Powerhouses
Both brands have more electrified models coming. The next-generation Palisade will offer a hybrid option for the first time when it hits dealers this fall. Kia’s smaller EV3 crossover should arrive in the U.S. next year, likely priced to compete in the more affordable segment.
Randy Parker, CEO of Hyundai Motor North America, said the momentum should continue with new models like the IONIQ 9 and increased production ramping up in Georgia. The numbers from August back him up.
The Korean brands are showing everyone else how to handle this transition. Offer buyers real choices across gas, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric. Price them competitively. Make sure the charging works. Not complicated, just well-executed.
