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Kia September 2026 Global Sales: 281,984 Units and a Record Third Quarter
Kia sold 281,984 vehicles worldwide in September 2026, an increase of 5.1% on September 2025 on a wholesale basis. The result closed the strongest third quarter in the company's history. Korean sales fell 6.7% in September, while overseas sales rose 7.5%.
The third quarter total reached 846,764 units, the highest since Kia began selling cars in 1962. The previous Q3 record, set in 2025, was 785,137 units. This article summarises the figures and sets out what they indicate for vehicle exporters, dealers and importers.
Data note: Monthly and quarterly figures are Kia wholesale results for September 2026 and the third quarter of 2026. Year-to-date figures cover January to September 2026, as reported by The Herald Business.
September 2026 Results at a Glance
Global sales of 281,984 units compare with 268,238 units in September 2025. August 2026 was lower at 266,675 units, up 5.0% year on year, against the 5.1% increase recorded in September. June 2026 was stronger at 295,720 units, up 9.5% on June 2025.
Korea vs Overseas: Where the Growth Came From
Korean sales were 45,705 units, down 6.7% year on year. Overseas sales were 235,457 units, up 7.5%. Special-purpose vehicles added 822 units, and the year-on-year percentages exclude them. Overseas markets therefore accounted for about 83.5% of the September total, a share calculated from the reported figures.
Data Table
| Market | September 2026 sales |
|---|---|
| Korea | 45705 |
| Overseas | 235457 |
| Special-purpose | 822 |
Source: Hyundai Motor Group Newsroom.
Compared with August, domestic sales rose 13.7% and overseas sales rose 4.4%. The domestic recovery follows an August in which Korean sales fell 7.6% to 40,213 units, which Kia attributed to fewer working days during the summer holidays. Korean sales in September were still below the level of September 2025, when they stood at 49,001 units.
Best-Selling Kia Models in September
The three best-selling models worldwide were the Sportage with 51,884 units, the Seltos with 37,950 units and the Sorento with 21,115 units.
Data Table
| Model | September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Sportage | 51884 |
| Seltos | 37950 |
| Sorento | 21115 |
Source: Hyundai Motor Group Newsroom.
The domestic and overseas rankings differ. In Korea the Sorento led with 6,957 units. Overseas, the Sportage sold 46,387 units, the Seltos 32,528 units and the K4 15,659 units.
Record Third Quarter and Year-to-Date Performance
The third quarter total is about 7.9% above the 2025 record, a figure calculated from the two totals. Domestic sales were 140,522 units, overseas sales were 703,494 units and special-purpose vehicles were 2,748 units.
Data Table
| Market | Q3 2025 | Q3 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 137519 | 140522 |
| Overseas | 646118 | 703494 |
| Special-purpose | 1500 | 2748 |
Source: Hyundai Motor Group Newsroom.
On the same figures, overseas sales rose by about 8.9% over the quarter, while domestic sales rose by about 2.2%. Both percentages are calculated from the dataset. The quarterly model ranking was led by the Sportage at 150,346 units, followed by the Seltos at 109,256 units and the Sorento at 56,928 units.
Cumulative sales for January to September 2026 were about 2.48 million units, up 4.4%. Domestic sales were 436,301 units (up 5.4%) and overseas sales were about 2.04 million units (up 4.2%). First-half sales of 1,630,988 units had already set a record, up 2.7% from 1,587,536 units in the first half of 2025.
Kia's Q4 Strategy: Hybrids in the US, EVs in Europe
A Kia official credited the record quarter to sales strategies tailored to differing regional electrification demand. Kia stated that it will maintain momentum in the fourth quarter by focusing on hybrid vehicles in the United States and electric vehicles in Europe.
The regional plan is consistent with Kia's 2026 targets. In the United States Kia plans 4.6% growth, led by sport utility vehicles and hybrids, including the all-new Telluride and hybrid versions of the Telluride and Seltos. In Europe it targets 11.1% growth with an electric lineup from the EV2 to the EV5. In India it targets 7.8% growth, led by the new Seltos. The PV5 van passed 10,000 cumulative units in Europe (10,429) by April 2026, six months after its November 2025 launch, and Kia aims for 25,000 PV5 sales in Europe in 2026.
Tariffs, Targets and the 2026 Full-Year Picture
Kia targets 3.35 million wholesale units in 2026, about 7% growth, with a 3.8% global market share. Its xEV target is 1.12 million units. Kia lists 691,000 hybrids and 400,000 electric vehicles within that target, and the remaining units are not itemised in the sources.
Trade costs remain a factor. Kia expects tariffs, higher incentives and exchange rates to create a combined headwind of KRW 2.4 trillion more than in 2025. Kia estimated that United States tariffs reduced its 2025 operating profit by KRW 3.092 trillion. The United States tariff rate on Korean vehicles was retroactively cut to 15% from 25%, effective 1 November 2025.
What It Means for Exporters, Dealers and Importers
For exporters, the September figures show a split between markets. Overseas sales rose 7.5% in the month while Korean sales fell 6.7%, although year-to-date Korean sales are up 5.4%. The Sportage, the Seltos and the K4 led overseas volumes in September.
For dealers and importers, Kia has stated a hybrid emphasis in the United States and an electric emphasis in Europe for the fourth quarter. These statements are relevant to readers active in those two markets.
Sources
- Hyundai Motor Group Newsroom — 기아, 2026년 9월 28만 1,984대 판매
- The Herald Business — Kia sets all-time Q3 sales record with about 850,000 vehicles globally
- Korea Business News — Kia September 2025 global sales (reproduction of Kia release)
- Asia Business Daily — Kia August 2026 global sales report
- Hyundai Motor Group — Kia Announces June 2026 Global Sales Results
- Kia Worldwide newsroom — 2026 Kia CEO Investor Day
- Chosun Biz — Kia sets record Korea sales as US tariffs cut profit, targets rebound
- Seoul Economic Daily — Kia PV5 Tops 10,000 Units in Europe
Last updated: October 2026. Year-to-date figures cover January to September 2026 as reported by The Herald Business and may change as sources revise their data.