Hyundai-Kia's combined U.S. sales rose 4.4 percent in February as strong crossover demand propelled volume at Hyundai and Kia, and the small Genesis luxury brand advanced behind the new G70 sedan.
Hyundai sales rose 2 percent to 45,612 vehicles for its the seventh straight month of year-over-year gains. Utilities accounted for 55 percent of Hyundai brand volume last month, setting a February record.
Kia Motors America deliveries jumped 6.7 percent to 43,406 and included the first 315 sales of the new 2020 Telluride crossover.
Genesis sold 1,528 vehicles last month, up 12 percent, led by 819 sales of the G70, which it didn't have in its lineup a year ago.
Brands: Hyundai, up 2%; Kia, up 6.7%; Genesis, up 12%
Notable nameplates: Hyundai Tucson, up 12%; Hyundai Santa Fe, up 4.7%; Hyundai Elantra, down 34%; Kia Forte, down 9.3%; Kia Optima, up 13%; Kia Sportage, up 15%; Kia Soul, up 30%; Genesis G80, down 51%; Genesis G90, down 36%
Incentives: $2,659 per vehicle for Hyundai, down 0.9% from a year earlier, and $3,836 for Kia, up 0.6%, ALG says.
Average transaction price: $23,366 for Hyundai, up 2.4% from a year earlier, and $22,560 for Kia, down 2.6%, according to ALG.
Quote: "Kia continued to gain valuable sales momentum in February as consumers took delivery of the first Telluride models to hit showrooms," Bill Peffer, vice president of sales operations for Kia Motors America, said in a statement. "With the all-new Soul expected to join Telluride in dealerships over the next few weeks, we have a tremendous one-two new product punch which will continue driving traffic to Kia dealerships through the first quarter."
Did you know? In February, the first 2019 Hyundai Kona electric crossover for a U.S. customer was delivered in Baltimore to Dr. Donald Small, a pediatric oncologist and director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center's Division of Pediatric Oncology.
