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SEARCHAutomaker’s sales defy trade tariff obstacles in what it expects to be another best
Kia introduced a second-generation Telluride at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, with 'a more upscale design,' a new hybrid variant, and an 'enhanced' X-Pro model for off-roading.
Kia
Kia’s U.S. subsidiary said it’s on pace for its third straight year of record sales here.
Year-to-date U.S. sales for the South Korean automaker, whose parent company is Hyundai, are up 7% to more than 777,000 units, Kia said. November activity contributed nearly a 10th of that.
The sales surge, achieved despite U.S. trade tariffs, has come across vehicle types, five models leading the year-to-date increase, the automaker said: the midsize K5 car, up 64%, the Carnival minivan, up 46%, the Sportage compact SUV, up 13%, the Telluride midsize crossover SUV, up 8%, and the midsize Sorento SUV, up 2%.
“As consumer demand shifts, Kia’s diverse product lineup and growing hybrid portfolio has us on the verge of our third consecutive annual sales record,” said Kia America Vice President, Sales Operations Eric Watson.
Kia and Hyundai could see even more lift from this week’s lowering of U.S. trade tariffs on imports from the country from 25% to 15%.
Kia has been working to make its lineup more appealing to American consumers. The automaker introduced a second-generation Telluride at the recently ended Los Angeles Auto Show for the 2027 model year with “a more upscale design,” a new hybrid variant, and an “enhanced” X-Pro model for off-roading, plus a roomier, “sanctuary-like” cabin and other features Kia said are common to luxury SUVs.
“Interest in the all-new Telluride is expanding beyond our current customer base, and we expect this positive momentum to carry into next year,” Watson said.
Kia also pointed out its 25% year-to-date sales bump among electrified models, though many brands experienced EV delivery increases spurred by the end of federal tax credits in October.
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