Hyundai EV Sales Q3 2026. Why Hybrids Are Selling

Hyundai has had a rocky time with its US EV sales after the federal EV tax credit ended on September 30, 2025, resulting in last minute purchases. Sales recovered in the first half, with Ioniq 5 sales increasing by 9 percent to 20,730 units (Carscoops). However, Herald Business reports that Hyundai Motor's EV sales in the third quarter, including Genesis, decreased by 57.7 percent to 12,713 units.

Hybrid sales have increased by 36.0 percent to 69,776 units (Herald Business). Hybrid sales accounted for a record 29 percent of Hyundai's sales in August (CBT News).

Hyundai is offering discounts to boost sales. In October they are offering a 10 percent discount or up to $7,000 in total savings on its electric SUVs. That means $3,500 off the 2026 Ioniq 5 and up to $7,000 off the Ioniq 9, which Electrek lists at a $58,995 starting price (Electrek).

Below you'll find all the stats for each month. Including facts on the Ioniq 9 and Ioniq 6, plus what's being offered in October. We've also indicated where there are discrepancies between the sources. None of the cars have been driven, all stats are based on the sources below.

The Federal EV tax credit ended on September 30, 2025. In October 2025 Hyundai sold 70,118 units in the US, down 2 percent on the previous year. Hybrid sales increased by 41 percent and electrified sales increased by 8 percent (Electrek).

However, EV sales dropped dramatically with the Ioniq 5 seeing a 63 percent drop to 1,642 units. This is a big drop from over 8,400 units in September (a roughly 80 percent drop). The Ioniq 6 saw a 52 percent drop to 398 units and 317 units were sold of the Ioniq 9.

Hyundai chief executive Randy Parker said in the report that Hyundai saw strong EV demand leading up to the expiration of the federal tax credits and that the shift had temporarily disrupted the market. He said Hyundai's momentum remained strong and that it was on pace for record sales in 2025. It's likely that sales dipped because of the last minute rush. Ford, Kia and Honda also saw significant drops in their EV sales.

Hyundai responded by slashing prices. They reduced the 2026 Ioniq 5 prices by almost $10,000 on some trims, bringing the starting price under $35,000 (Electrek). They still offered a $7,500 credit for the 2025 Ioniq 5 at this time.

Hyundai saw sales increase by 9 percent for the Ioniq 5 in the first half of 2026, with 20,730 units sold (Carscoops). Sales increased by just 4 percent in the second quarter to 10,940 units. However, sales dropped in June by 26 percent to 2,335 units due to the boost in sales last year (Carscoops).

Sales increased by 28 percent in May to 5,002 units (a May record). Year to date sales for May were 18,395 units, up 16 percent (Electrek). The Ioniq 5 was the 4th best selling EV in the US in the first quarter behind the Toyota bZ and Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

The Ioniq 9 saw 4,858 units sold in the first half. As this model was launched in spring 2025, the increase from last year is skewed (Carscoops). Electrek said sales increased by 380 percent. Sales in the second quarter were 2,868 units, up 183 percent. June saw sales increase by 21 percent to 857 units.

However, the Ioniq 6 saw a big drop in sales. 1,241 units were sold in the first half (-80%), 412 units in the second quarter (-86%) and just 38 units in June (-95%).

Overall, the Ioniq 5 saw a boost in sales and the Ioniq 9 launched well. The Ioniq 6 however saw a big drop.

Sales for the Ioniq 5 dropped by 51 percent in August 2026 to 3,818 units. The Ioniq 6 dropped 97 percent to 28 units and the Ioniq 9 dropped by 42 percent (CBT News). Year to date sales for the Ioniq 9 increased to 6,147 units (+98%), but the Ioniq 5 dropped by 14 percent.

These stats are hard to line up with the first half. The Ioniq 5 was up 9 percent through June but down 14 percent through August. This implies a steep slowdown in July and August. However, there isn't any explanation for this from the sources, and CBT News did not give the July figure. The comparison base may include the early stages of the pre-expiry buying rush, but we couldn't verify that.

Hyundai Motor saw EV sales drop by 57.7 percent in the third quarter to 12,713 units (Herald Business). Combined Hyundai & Kia EV sales dropped by 51.0 percent to 22,311 units. In September sales dropped by 57.0 percent to 7,423 units.

By our arithmetic, the Ioniq 9's year to date total of 6,147 units through August minus its first half total of 4,858 implies about 1,289 sales in July and August combined. We haven't seen the monthly figures.

The reasons for the drop aren't mentioned in any of the sources. The base figure for comparison (third quarter of 2025) was boosted due to people rushing to claim the tax credit before it ended on September 30, 2025 (Electrek & Carscoops).

CBT News reports that August 2026 sales were 86,977, down 2 percent, with hybrids a record 29 percent of sales (up 33%). Electrified models including EVs were 34 percent. CBT News says hybrids were 33 percent of first half sales, and hybrid sales rose 67 percent, while Carscoops says electrified models, which include EVs, were 33 percent. Given August's 29 and 34 percent split, the 33 percent figure probably describes electrified sales, but we couldn't confirm this.

Hybrid sales increased by 71 percent in the second quarter, reaching a record (Carscoops & CBT News). The top selling model was the Tucson, with sales increasing by 20 percent to 19,581 units in June. The Tucson increased by 18 percent to 21,197 units in August. The Elantra increased by 16 percent to 17,747 units. The Sonata increased by 44 percent to 6,899 units. The Santa Fe increased by 5 percent to 13,512 units.

Hyundai Motor increased hybrid sales by 36.0 percent in Q3 to 69,776 units. Kia increased sales by 77.0 percent to 68,336 units. Combined sales were 138,112 units, up 53.4 percent (record sales) (Herald Business).

Hyundai's overall US sales, per CarPro, were 697,464 for the year to date, up 3 percent. Cox Automotive forecast, via CBT News, that Hyundai Motor Group would sell 511,421 US vehicles in the third quarter, which would put it ahead of Ford for the first time in a quarter. Herald Business's actual combined Hyundai and Kia figure of 506,200 is about 1 percent below that forecast by our arithmetic. We couldn't confirm Ford's figures.

Overall, Hyundai's sales in 2026 have increased in the US, but this is driven by hybrid sales, with EV sales playing a smaller role.

Electrek's October 9 report says Hyundai is offering a 10 percent discount or up to $7,000 in total savings on its electric SUVs this month. The 2026 Ioniq 5 gets $3,500 off, which is 10 percent of its $35,000 starting price, leaving about $31,500 by Electrek's calculation. The 2027 Ioniq 5 gets up to $2,750 in total savings. The Ioniq 9 gets up to $7,000 off its $58,995 starting price, which would leave about $51,995.

By our arithmetic, $7,000 off $58,995 is roughly 11.9 percent, which is consistent with Electrek's remark that it is over a 10 percent discount.

Lease deals are also available. The 2026 Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range can be had for $339 a month for 24 months with $4,999 due at signing and offers up to 245 miles of range. The 2026 Ioniq 5 SE RWD is $369 a month for 24 months with $3,999 due at signing and up to 318 miles of range. The 2026 Ioniq 9 S RWD is $419 a month for 36 months with $4,999 due at signing and up to 335 miles of range. The 2027 Ioniq 5 can be leased from $369 a month.

By our arithmetic, these leases would cost roughly $13,135, $12,855 and $20,083 respectively over their terms, including the amount due at signing. This doesn't include any tax, fees or mileage restrictions, which the article doesn't state.

Finance is available for 0.9 percent APR for up to 60 months on the 2026 Ioniq 5, and 1.9 percent APR for up to 60 months on the 2026 Ioniq 9. There is no end date mentioned, who it's available for, credit checks or if this can be stacked with other incentives.

Hyundai said they're reducing prices to reflect their commitment to affordability and long term strategy. Their EVs have a higher conquest rate than their gas/hybrid models. They said the Ioniq 5 had a 69.8 percent conquest rate last year, while the Ioniq 9 had a 64.3 percent conquest rate.

The Ioniq 9 is a 3-row electric SUV produced at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America near Savannah, Georgia alongside the Ioniq 5 (Electrek). It has a starting price of $58,995 in October (Electrek).

Price figures differ. CarGurus says the 2026 Ioniq 9 Calligraphy starts at $76,590 including a $1,600 destination fee, with the Calligraphy Design trim adding $2,000. A search result headline reports a launch price of $60,555 for the 2026 model. It's possible that this is a trim or price change from the base price of $58,995, but we haven't confirmed it.

The Ioniq 9 S RWD has an EPA range of up to 335 miles (Electrek). CarGurus expects an approximate range of 311 miles for the Calligraphy, based on the 110.3kWh battery. The two figures refer to different trims.

Hyundai have only announced one trim for 2027 so far: the AWD Performance Calligraphy Black Ink. This model features dual motor AWD with 422hp and 516lb-ft of torque, the highest spec. It features 800V charging technology, allowing it to charge from 10-80% in around 24 minutes (CarGurus).

The Black Ink features Abyss Black Pearl paint, black chrome front skid plate and rear garnish, gloss black roof rails and black 21" wheels. It also features a standard NACS port and vehicle to load capability. It has cargo space of 21.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 behind the second row, and 86.9 behind the first row. Towing is expected to remain the same at 5,000 lbs.

Most of the specs outside of the powertrain and trim details are expected to carry over, with no mention of pricing for the Black Ink. Sale dates aren't confirmed either (CarGurus).

The standard Ioniq 6 has been discontinued in the US, per Electrek's July 3 report, leaving only the N Line. Carscoops said that Hyundai have stopped selling every version apart from the Ioniq 6 N. The two sources name the remaining version differently, and we can't say which is right.

Whatever the case, sales dropped significantly by mid-year. In August sales dropped by 97 percent to 28 units. In June, sales were 38 units (CBT News & Carscoops).

On the performance side, Electrek reports that the 2026 Ioniq 5 N was cut by $6,300 to a starting price of $59,900 before the $1,600 destination charge. It features a native NACS port and can produce up to 641hp and 568lb-ft of torque in N Grin Boost mode. Hyundai has not announced pricing for the 2027 N (Electrek, August 18).

See our companion article for full details of the 2027 Ioniq 5 pricing and trims.

Hyundai aren't the only brand to see changes. Tesla are the leading EV brand in the US. Chevrolet are second, with the new Bolt boosting sales by 4,224 in the first half. The Toyota bZ sold 17,553 units. Hyundai said the Ioniq 5 is now outselling the Chevrolet Equinox EV, which sold 16,249 units (-41%).

Other competitors saw bigger drops. The Ford Mustang Mach-E sold 11,632 units (-47%), and the Honda Prologue sold 8,407 units (-48%).

Kia is also seeing the same pattern. Kia saw sales drop by 37.7 percent to 9,598 units in the third quarter. However, hybrid sales increased by 77.0 percent to 68,336 units (Herald Business). Combined EV sales dropped by 51.0 percent to 22,311 units. Hybrid sales increased by 53.4 percent to 138,112 units.

Kia is also offering discounts. Electrek's October 9 piece notes that Kia is offering up to $10,000 off its three-row EV9 this month, which is a larger cash figure than Hyundai's $7,000 on the Ioniq 9, although the vehicles and prices differ.

There are multiple different sales figures for Hyundai, which can cause confusion. Herald Business said Hyundai Motor (including Genesis) sold 269,541 units in the third quarter and 85,502 in September. However, CarPro said the Hyundai brand alone sold 77,439 units in September (+9.1%). By our arithmetic, the difference of roughly 8,000 units for the month is consistent with Genesis, which Herald Business puts at 22,645 for the quarter.

Electrified sales can be confusing. Electrified refers to hybrids and EVs. In September, Hyundai & Kia sold 51,751 units. 44,328 units were hybrids and 7,423 units were EVs. Don't get confused and think that EVs have increased. They have actually decreased, while hybrids increased.

The Ioniq 9 percentage changes can be confusing. As it was launched in spring 2025, the first few months of 2026 will show a small increase from a few months of sales. This is why Carscoops said the increase was inflated. The year to date figure shows the true picture, with sales of 6,147 units.

The monthly figures for the Ioniq 5 can be confusing due to the last minute rush in 2025. In September 2025 they sold over 8,400 units. In October they sold 1,642 units. Any comparison will show more about the tax credit than the car itself.

Overall, Hyundai are heavily discounting their EVs. You can get 10 percent off, $339/month leasing deals and 0.9 percent APR financing in October (Electrek).

However, sales are dropping significantly compared to the last minute rush. This can mean that dealers have cars to move and you can negotiate. This is an assumption. There was no info on inventory.

The federal credit is no longer available, so this is the only discount you'll find in the sources. There may be state/Utility incentives, but this couldn't be confirmed.

As always, these deals will have end dates and will vary by region. Get in contact with a dealer to check.

We couldn't confirm the end date, eligibility or whether the October offers can be stacked. We also couldn't confirm the base price of the Ioniq 9, given the $58,995 and $60,555 figures.

The July Ioniq 5 sales couldn't be confirmed. The full year trend couldn't be confirmed. There was no info on the EV sales for each model in September.

It wasn't clear if the remaining Ioniq 6 is the N or N Line. The 2027 Ioniq 9 details are based on CarGurus' expectations.

None of the cars were driven. All figures are based on the secondary sources below.

Electrek, Hyundai offers 10% discount on Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9 EVs: https://electrek.co/2026/10/09/hyundai-offers-10-discount-ioniq-5-ioniq-9-evs/

Electrek, Hyundai's EV sales plunged after tax credit disappeared: https://electrek.co/2025/11/03/hyundais-ev-sales-plunged-after-tax-credit-disappeared/

Electrek, Hyundai Ioniq 5 remains top-selling EV, sales top 20,000: https://electrek.co/2026/07/03/hyundai-ioniq-5-remains-top-selling-ev-sales-top-20000/

Electrek, Hyundai's Ioniq 5 still on a tear, Ioniq 9 sales surge 279%: https://electrek.co/2026/06/02/hyundais-ioniq-5-still-on-tear-ioniq-9-sales-surge-279/

Carscoops, Hyundai sales and the Ioniq 5: https://www.carscoops.com/2026/07/hyundai-sales-ioniq5/

CBT News, Hyundai set to pass Ford: https://www.cbtnews.com/hyundai-set-to-pass-ford/

Herald Business, Combined Q3 sales reach 506,200 units, up 5.4% on year: https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10891693

CarPro, National sales results for all automakers, year to date Q3 2026: https://www.carpro.com/blog/national-sales-results-for-all-automakers-year-to-date-q3-2026

CarGurus, 2027 Hyundai Ioniq 9 pricing, specs and release date: https://www.cargurus.com/research/articles/2027-hyundai-ioniq-9-pricing-specs-release-date

Electrek, Hyundai cuts Ioniq 5 N EV prices by $6,300: https://electrek.co/2026/07/15/hyundai-cuts-ioniq-5-n-ev-prices-by-6300/