Kia Highlights "Electrified" Models as Boost to Record November Sales

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Kia simply had its finest November ever within the USA. It handed 70,000 models for the primary time ever in a file 70,107 car gross sales. On the forefront of its assertion about this, the corporate highlighted robust gross sales of its “electrified lineup.” Although, it additionally highlighted excessive SUV gross sales, and “electrified” fashions embody typical hybrids and plugin hybrids with comparatively small batteries. Nonetheless, it was thrilling to see electrical autos put ahead because the star characters in a boast about file gross sales — fairly a break from the favored (and incorrect) narrative in 2024 that EV gross sales are falling.

The highest spotlight for gross sales development was the Kia EV6, which had 46% extra gross sales in November 2024 than in November 2023. The EV6 had 1,887 gross sales in November, in comparison with 1,290 gross sales in November 2023. The EV9, not highlighted by Kiadid even higher! It had 2,155 gross sales in November 2024, in comparison with simply 5 in November 2023. It is smart, and is sweet, that Kia wouldn’t put out some loopy proportion development determine in comparison with the trickle of preliminary deliveries a 12 months in the past, however I’d have thought the corporate would spotlight that the EV9 was the model’s prime EV vendor (amongst pure EVs). That mentioned, a pleasant pic of the EV9 was the lead picture for the press release.

General, electrified fashions accounted for 16% of Kia’s gross sales. (We don’t but know the share full electrics had, as Kia didn’t point out that and hasn’t damaged out the EV share of Niro gross sales. Although, EV6 and EV9 gross sales accounted for five.8% of Kia’s gross sales in November, and Niro EV gross sales wouldn’t have contributed an awesome deal extra.)

Kia did spotlight the brand new Kia EV9 GT that was simply unveiled, though that had no relevance to its November gross sales figures. “In addition, the high-performance 2026 Kia EV9 GT SUV and the significantly refreshed Kia EV6 were also unveiled at the at the show,” Kia writes. “With a Kia-estimated 501 horsepower propelled through dual electric motors mounted front and rear, the EV9 GT is targeted to hit 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds and represents the most powerful three-row SUV Kia has ever produced. The 2026 EV6 features updated front and rear designs, enhanced premium interior touches, and newly packaged trim levels with added features and amenities. The EV6 continues to strengthen its position in the CUV and EV segments by building on its award-winning formula.”

The corporate additionally highlighted two absolutely electrical ideas it confirmed off on the SEMA present. “Kia returned to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas with two concepts that offered a peek into the future when vehicles will offer the ultimate in capability, adaptability, utility and organization, all with an eye on innovation,” Kia notes. “The two Kia concepts — the EV9 ADVNTR CONCEPT EV SUV and the PV5 WKNDR CONCEPT EV VAN — represented ‘leveled up’ versions of the brand’s rugged and capable utility vehicles which have long been known for being versatile, adaptable and comfortable and for suiting the needs of a wide range of consumers.”

Clearly, regardless of the at the moment common anti-EV rhetoric within the trade, Kia continues to be eager to level out that the long run is electrical and Kia is doing nicely “leading” on EVs. (I do know, relative to Tesla gross sales, BYD gross sales, and even NIO and XPENG gross sales, Kia’s EV gross sales are tiny. However that is the US, not China and even Europe, and Kia is evaluating its present numbers to its previous numbers and to the slower-to-electrify legacy competitors’s numbers.)