Hyundai Motor America has reported record-breaking sales in the United States last month, marking one of its strongest performances in recent years. The impressive results were fueled by robust demand for its electric vehicles, alongside steady growth from several of its SUV and sedan offerings. Even with the expiration of the federal EV tax credit at the end of September, the Korean automaker remains optimistic about maintaining its momentum through the remainder of 2025 and carrying the strength into 2026.
In September alone, Hyundai sold 71,003 vehicles in the U.S., representing a 14 percent jump over the 62,491 units sold in the same month last year. Looking at the bigger picture, the company’s third-quarter sales rose 11 percent compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 678,349 vehicles compared to 610,494 a year ago. This surge has been attributed to both the company’s growing EV lineup and renewed consumer interest in several core models.
Among the standouts was the Ioniq 5, Hyundai’s flagship all-electric crossover. Sales skyrocketed 152 percent year-over-year, climbing from 3,336 units in September 2024 to 8,408 units last month. While many automakers experienced a short-lived surge as buyers rushed to take advantage of the federal EV tax credit before it expired, Hyundai has moved quickly to fill the gap. To maintain buyer interest, the company is now offering a $7,500 cash incentive on 2025 models, as well as significant price cuts of up to $9,800 on the upcoming 2026 Ioniq 5. So far this year, Ioniq 5 sales have totaled 41,091 units, up from 30,318 at this point last year—a 36 percent increase.
The Ioniq 6 sedan has also seen encouraging growth, with sales rising 36 percent. However, volumes remain comparatively modest, with 814 units sold in September and 9,132 sold year-to-date. The newly introduced Ioniq 9, Hyundai’s large three-row electric SUV, added another 4,177 units to the tally in September.
On the gasoline-powered side, Hyundai’s smaller models also played a major role in the company’s success. The compact Venue posted a 77 percent surge, with 2,836 vehicles sold last month. The redesigned Santa Fe continued to resonate with buyers, up 28 percent with 10,114 units sold. Meanwhile, the Elantra sedan gained ground with a 23 percent sales increase compared to last year.
Not all models shared in the upward trend. Hyundai’s midsize Sonata sedan slipped 5 percent year-to-date to 45,914 units. The compact Kona crossover also dipped 11 percent, totaling 57,278 sales so far in 2025. The Santa Cruz, Hyundai’s lifestyle pickup, recorded one of the sharper declines, falling 18 percent to 20,633 units.
Despite these mixed results, Hyundai’s overall growth trajectory remains strong, particularly in the EV space, where it is aggressively positioning itself with competitive pricing and incentives. The company’s ability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions—such as the loss of federal tax credits—suggests that Hyundai is well-placed to sustain its sales strength into next year.