Hyundai, Kia's U.S. sales off 13% in H1 despite record green car revenue

[Source: Hyundai Motor Group]

Hyundai Motor Co. and its sibling Kia Corp.’s combined sales in the United States fell nearly 13 percent on year in the first six months as production disruption from continued chip shortages paled their feat of best sale in green fleet.

According to Hyundai Motor Group, Hyundai Motor and Kia together sold 702,875 cars in the U.S. during the January-June period, down 12.7 percent from the same period a year ago. Hyundai Motor and Kia delivered 369,535 units and 333,340 units, respectively, which were 13.3 percent and 11.9 percent lower.

Ongoing chip supply shortage impaired sales in the U.S. market.

Still, the two fared better than other finished carmakers whose sale fell almost 20 percent over the same period.

Despite an overall drop in sales, Hyundai Motor and Kia boasted record sales in environmentally-friendly vehicles for the first half period.

The two automakers sold 90,691 green vehicles in the first half of the year – Hyundai 47,598 units and Kia 40,393 units – which is up 82.1 percent from the same period last year. Hyundai Motor’s sales were up 4.02 percent on year and Kia 171.9 percent.

[Source: Hyundai Motor Group]

Hyundai Motor and Kia together sold 34,518 units of electric vehicles, up 317.6 percent from a year ago, 55,902 units of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), up 35.1 percent, and 271 units of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), up 102.2 percent.

Hyundai Motor’s luxury brand Genesis reaped record first-half sales.

Hyundai Motor and Kia’s recreational vehicles accounted for 71.9 percent of their entire sales in the U.S. – Hyundai 75.6 percent and Kia 67.8 percent – marking the first time exceed 70 percent.

In June alone, Hyundai Motor and Kia sold 132,739 cars – Hyundai 67,597 and Kia 65,142 – down 8.5 percent from a year ago. Environment-friendly car sales, however, jumped 26 percent on year to 16,657 units in June.

EV sales soared 319.8 percent on year in June to 7,129 units and hydrogen fueled cars 122.7 percent to 49 units. Hybrid car sales fell 17.5 percent on year to 9,479 units.

The best-selling car for Hyundai Motor in the U.S. in June was Tucson, followed by Santa Fe, and Avante, while for Kia was Sportage, K3, and Telluride.

Hyundai Motor, meanwhile, sold monthly record 2,853 units of the Ioniq 5 in the U.S. in June. Kia also sold record 14,153 units of new Sportage model that began selling in March. Kia said that sales of the new Sportage sport utility vehicle topped 100,000 units for a third month since April.

Shares of Hyundai Motor were trading 0.56 percent higher at 181,000 won ($139.4) on Monday and Kia 1.03 percent at 78,800 won.

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