Kia America Sold More Cars In Q1 Than At Any Other Time Since 1992

Kia America has recorded the best first quarter in sales in the conglomerate’s history as new and returning customers apparently scramble to secure their new car before the Trump Administration’s highly controversial tariff increase come into effect.

Kia’s United States’ dealerships delivered 78,540 sales in March 2025 alone, a 13 percent increase over the 69,472 deliveries completed in March 2024. In the 12 months in-between, Kia’s sales totaled 198,850, a 10 percent increase over the 179,621 accrued during the same period between March 2023 and March 2024.

Though not actively stated, it’s likely a sizeable proportion of these sales are down to customers and dealers rushing sales through before 3 April, at which time the U.S. government’s 25 percent tariff on all cars imported into the United States is expected to come into effect. MSRPs are expected to rise exponentially, with some experts claiming starting prices for new cars in the United States could increase to upwards of $5,000 to $15,000 USD.

Yes, The Sportage Is Kia America’s Best-Selling Vehicle

• 198,850 sales for Kia America between March 2024 and March 2025.
• Sportage is the highest seller (41,301), but cannot beat the Carnival’s 53 percent sales growth.
• Most, but not all, of Kia America’s 11 product lines saw sales increases in the last 12 months.

Unsurprisingly, the Sportage compact SUV, Kia’s best-selling model globally, was Kia America’s best-selling model both in March 2025 (16,872 deliveries completed), and March YTD (41,301). The Sportage also recorded the fourth-highest sales growth for Kia America between March 2024 and March 2025, with sales increasing 11 percent over the 37,286 sold between March 2023 and March 2024.

Interestingly, both the Carnival MPV and the Telluride eight-seater SUV enjoyed higher sales growth than the Sportage (the latter set to go full hybrid from 2027 onwards). The Carnival in particular saw an incredible spike in sales, with 6,469 units sold in March – an 87 percent increase over the 3,451 sold in March last year – and 14,574 units sold year-to-date compared with the 9,538 sold between March 2023 and March 2024 (53 percent). The Telluride saw similarly impressive sales growth, with 11,473 sold in March alone vs 10,152 one year earlier (13 percent), and 29,843 sold YTD vs 25,578 between March 2024 and March 2025 (17 percent).

Though sales did not improve quite as strongly, the new K4 compact sedan was behind only the Sportage as Kia America’s strongest selling line, with 37,004 examples sold between March 2024 and March 2025. The K4 was also Kia America’s second-biggest seller last month, though the 13,719 units delivered was ‘only’ 302 examples more than sold in March 2024.

Kia America. March 2024-March 2025 Sales

EV9 And EV6 Sales Are Down, Though Not For Much Longer

Of the 11 lines currently sold by Kia America, five four – the all-electric EV9 and EV6, and the Soul, the Niro and Seltos crossovers – recorded few sales between March 2024 and March 2025 than the previous year. Kia America was quick to point out though that, following the grand opening of parent company Hyundai’s brand-new facility in Georgia, sales for both the EV9 and the EV6 in particular are expected to start growing.

Though many manufacturers are braced for, what could be, a fallow period for new car sales (EV or otherwise), Kia America was quick to celebrate both the continuation of a six-month streak of increased sales, but also the highest Q1 (January to March) sales record yet for Kia America since its foundation in 1992. Kia eve states that “retail transactions,” which likely includes everything from new and used product sales, merchandising, servicing and additional package options, also increased 25 percent year-on-year.