Hyundai Motor achieves sales milestone of 15 million cars in the U.S.

Hyundai Motor entered the U.S. market in 1986 with Excel, a subcompact sedan. [Photo source: Hyundai Motor Group]

Hyundai Motor Group achieved a sales milestone of 15 million cars in the U.S., accomplishing the feat in 36 years since the South Korean automobile giant entered the market.

Hyundai Motor America, a unit of Hyundai Motor Group, announced Wednesday (local time in the U.S.) that it recently sold its 15 millionth car in the U.S. The milestone sale was a Tuscon compact sport-utility vehicle, sold at West Herr Hyundai in Williamsville, New York.

“I can’t think of a better way to conclude 2022 than by celebrating the sale of our 15 millionth Hyundai vehicle in the United States,” said Randy Parker, chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor America.

Hyundai Motor entered the U.S. market in 1986 with Excel, a subcompact sedan that sold 170,000 units in the first year and 263,000 units in the following year to become the top-selling imported compact sedan.

Since then, the Korean automaker has become one of the fastest-growing automotive brands in the U.S. with 850 dealers across the country.

Its product lineup in the U.S. also expanded to include SUVs, luxury sedans, and electric vehicles.

The best-selling Hyundai car to date is Avante, sold as Elantra in the U.S. The compact sedan sold 3.53 million units.

The second-best seller is Sonata sedan with 3.14 million units sold, followed by Santa Fe SUV with 1.91 million units, Accent subcompact sedan with 1.36 million units, and Tucson SUV with 1.34 million units.

Its electric and hybrid vehicles are also selling well. Sales of IONIQ 5, which was launched in December 2021, reached 20,000 units this year.

Hyundai Motor plans to sell 840,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2030.

The automaker is due to open a new EV factory in Georgia in 2025. Its first plant in Alabama began operations in 2005.