On the Dash:
- Kia sets U.S. year-to-date sales record of 279,718 units through April, up 2%.
- Kia hopes to boost 2026 EV6 sales in the U.S. with a $5,000 price cut.
- Award-winning compact EV3 coming to US dealerships later this year, starting around $35,000.
Kia has spent the last two years building one of the most expansive electric vehicle lineups in the world. As other automakers scale back EV plans, the Korean automaker reports sales success, price cuts, and a new entry-level EV for the U.S. market.
Kia reports record sales in April
Kia reported Monday that global sales rose 1% in April to 277,188 vehicles, while U.S. sales through April hit a record 279,718 units, up 2% year-over-year. The gains came despite a 37% drop in domestic EV6 sales and the absence of a federal tax credit.
Hybrids drove much of the growth, with sales rising 97% in April. Total electrified sales, including plug-in hybrids and battery electrics, climbed 71%, both setting new April records.
Individual models also stood out. The Telluride posted its best-ever April, up 16% over its own record from a year earlier. The Sportage Hybrid surged 112%. The Sorento Hybrid rose 34%.
“Achieving record sales milestones amid challenging market conditions highlights the company’s ability to align with customers’ evolving preferences for SUVs and hybrid vehicles,” said Eric Watson, vice president of sales operations, Kia America, in the company’s press release.
EV9 sales surge, EV6 price cuts announced
The end of the $7,500 federal tax credit in September hit US electric vehicle sales across the board. Kia’s results reflect that pressure, but not evenly across its lineup.
EV9 sales surged in April. Kia sold 1,349 units of its all-electric three-row SUV last month, up 481% from April 2025. Year-to-date, Kia sold 4,089 EV9s, ahead of the 3,988 sold in the same period last year.
The EV6 also saw gains over last year. Sales are up 11% compared to April 2025. Year-to-date sales, however, dropped sharply, with 2,751 units sold through April compared to 4,394 in the same period last year.
Kia acted quickly to address the decline. On Monday, the company cut EV6 pricing by $5,000, dropping the 2026 model’s base price to $37,900. It also added a dual-voltage charging cable as standard equipment across all trims and introduced Plug and Charge capability, which automates authentication and billing at compatible chargers.
The EV6 is built in West Point, Georgia, giving it more insulation from tariff exposure than most of its imported competitors.
EV3 coming to the U.S.
While other automakers are scaling back electric vehicle plans in the US, Kia plans to expand its lineup. The company is launching the EV3 later this year, a compact SUV that has already surpassed 75,000 global sales, won the 2025 World Car of the Year, and finished its first year on sale as the third-best-selling EV in the UK.
In the US, the 2027 Kia EV3 will go on sale later this year with five trims: Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line, and a flagship GT variant.
Kia has not announced final pricing, but the EV3 is expected to start around $35,000, placing it among the most affordable EVs in the US alongside the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan LEAF.
“With the price re-positioning of EV6 and the launch of the all-new EV3, Kia is making EVs more attainable for those who embrace the fully electric lifestyle,” Watson said.
