Kia America closed 2025 with the highest annual sales in its history, delivering 852,155 vehicles in the U.S. and surpassing the 800,000-unit mark for the first time. The performance represents a 7 percent increase over 2024 and extends the brand’s streak to three consecutive years of record-breaking annual sales.
Record sales and market share
Kia’s 852,155 U.S. sales in 2025 mark a 7 percent year‑over‑year gain and the brand’s third straight all‑time annual record. The company also achieved its highest‑ever U.S. market share, underscoring growing mainstream appeal across a broad mix of models.
Retail sales through Kia dealerships increased 5 percent versus 2024, setting a new high for the sixth consecutive year. That growth extends Kia’s run to eight years of uninterrupted retail sales increases, signaling resilient showroom demand even in a highly competitive market.
Standout models powering growth
Four nameplates delivered their best annual performances ever in 2025: Carnival, Sportage, Telluride and the new K4. Carnival led on growth with a 44 percent sales jump, while Sportage climbed 13 percent, Telluride rose 7 percent, and K4 edged up 1 percent.
The Sportage compact SUV earned the distinction of achieving the best single‑year sales total by any Kia model in U.S. history. Kia’s sedan portfolio also showed renewed strength, with total sedan sales increasing 13 percent year‑over‑year as redesigned products attracted new customers.
Electrified and SUV lineup sets records
Kia’s electrified portfolio – including hybrids, plug‑in hybrids and EVs – posted a 24 percent increase in sales, reaching a new annual high. SUVs, a core pillar of the brand’s U.S. strategy, also set a record with a 5 percent year‑over‑year gain.
These results highlight the continued shift in customer demand toward efficient crossovers and utility vehicles, while still leaving room for growth in traditional passenger cars. Together, the mix underscores Kia’s emphasis on offering multiple propulsion choices across key segments, from three‑row family SUVs to compact daily drivers.
Safety accolades and brand recognition
Beyond raw volume, Kia strengthened its reputation for safety and quality in 2025. The 2026 Sorento, for models built after September 2025, earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s top 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating under the institute’s most demanding testing protocols. That recognition brought the number of Kia vehicles awarded a 2025 TSP+ to five, including the 2026 Sportage, 2025 K4, 2025 EV9 and 2025 Telluride.
Kia was also named one of TIME’s World’s Most Sustainable Companies of 2024, adding environmental credibility to its growing sales momentum. In the U.S., the brand continues as the Official Automotive Partner of the NBA and WNBA, leveraging high‑visibility sports marketing to reinforce its image with American audiences.
Outlook: momentum into the New Year
Leadership at Kia North America and Kia America emphasized that the record year reflects the strength of both the brand and its product strategy. President and CEO Sean Yoon pointed to sustained demand across segments and expressed confidence that new products arriving in early 2026 would help extend the upward trajectory.
Among the headline launches are the second‑generation Telluride and the highly anticipated K4 hatchback, which will reach U.S. showrooms in the first quarter of 2026. With additional new and updated models on the way, including more electrified offerings, Kia expects the combination of fresh product, strong safety credentials and expanding brand recognition to keep its sales momentum strong in the year ahead.
