South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. notched their strongest third-quarter performance in the US market, with combined deliveries climbing 12% to 480,175 vehicles despite ongoing tariff pressures that have squeezed profit margins across the industry.
Hyundai, including its Genesis luxury line, sold 260,538 units—a 12.7% gain—while Kia deliveries rose 11.1% to 219,637 vehicles, the companies announced Thursday. Genesis separately accounted for 21,469 units.
The results underscore how consumer appetite for fuel-efficient models has offset broader concerns about the 25% import tariffs Washington imposed on Korean vehicles in April. Sales of electrified vehicles—encompassing hybrids and battery-powered models—jumped 54.5% to 135,547 units, suggesting buyers prioritized efficiency over potential price increases.
The performance contrasts with profitability trends. Earlier this year, both companies reported double-digit declines in operating profit as tariff costs and higher incentive spending weighed on margins. Hyundai’s management has indicated that tariff impacts would intensify in the second half of 2025.
The automakers face mounting pressure to expand US manufacturing capacity to sidestep import duties while maintaining their recent sales momentum.
