But sales keep sliding.
Kia has introduced discounts of up to $10,000 on its EV6 and EV9 crossovers in the U.S., yet sales continue to fall. Meanwhile, gasoline models like the Kia K5 and Sportage are flying off dealer lots. Sales of the K5 sedan jumped 64%, the Sportage crossover rose 13%, and the flagship Telluride was up 8%.
Automakers across the U.S. are scrambling to revive interest in EVs after the federal $7,500 tax credit was rolled back. With incentives weakening, Kia has taken a blunt-force approach: steep price cuts. The company is offering discounts of up to $10,000 on the Niro EV, EV6, and EV9 — a nearly 25% markdown for the Niro alone. But even these aggressive incentives haven’t restored demand to last year’s levels.
Sales of key EV models are falling at double-digit rates. In November, Kia sold 918 units of its three-row EV9 — nearly three times more than the Hyundai Ioniq 9, but half of what it sold in November 2024. EV6 sales, despite a recent refresh, dropped from 1,887 to just 603 units. Year-to-date, the EV9 trails last year’s pace by 30%, and the EV6 is down 38%. The overall increase in Niro sales — up to 5,230 units — is largely due to the model being offered as both an EV and a hybrid, with Kia not disclosing the mix. The hybrid version is likely doing most of the heavy lifting.
Despite the sharp drop in EV demand, Kia’s overall sales picture remains solid. In November, the company sold 72,002 vehicles — a 3% increase over November 2024. Year-to-date sales have reached 777,152 units, putting the brand on track for a third consecutive record. The growth is driven by traditional gas-powered models: sales of the K5 sedan surged 64%, the Sportage crossover climbed 13%, and the flagship Telluride rose 8%.